“The armed forces have the necessary number of soldiers to carry out the special military operation,” Shoigu reported, according to the Reuters news agency. “In September alone, more than 50,000 citizens signed up.” These figures indicate that Russia has made remarkable progress both in recruiting and in taking over former Wagner Group mercenaries in “voluntary formations,” Reuters said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin had announced a “partial mobilization” of 300,000 reservists more than a year ago. Hundreds of thousands of young men then fled the country to avoid being sent to the front.
Meanwhile, the front lines in Ukraine have barely moved for a year. Russia even reported on Tuesday that Ukrainian attempts to break through their defense lines on the eastern and southern fronts had “failed”. Shoigu said the Russian army had managed to “significantly weaken the enemy’s combat potential and inflict serious damage.”
Almost four months ago, Kiev launched a counter-offensive to push back the Russian occupier. But Ukrainian troops, equipped with Western tanks, have been running into strong Russian defense lines with minefields, trenches and booby traps for months.
With winter approaching, the Ukrainian army has only been able to recapture a handful of villages.