Russia mobilized 300,000 reservists in simply over a month to affix Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine, a prime official mentioned Friday, after a call-up that triggered an exodus of males unwilling to struggle.
President Vladimir Putin introduced final month a partial mobilization to prop up his troops in Ukraine, the place Russia has just lately suffered defeats on the bottom.
“The duty of recruiting 300,000 individuals has been accomplished,” Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu mentioned in a televised assembly with Putin.
Shoigu added that “no extra [mobilization] duties are deliberate,” however mentioned Russia was nonetheless recruiting volunteers and troopers beneath contract.
Shoigu mentioned 82,000 of the mobilized individuals had been in Ukraine, with 41,000 of them deployed to navy models.
A remaining 218,000 are present process coaching in Russia, Shoigu mentioned.
Putin requested Shoigu to thank the mobilized troops for his or her “patriotism.”
“I wish to say thanks to them for his or her dedication to responsibility, for his or her patriotism,” Putin mentioned, and for “the truth that they’ll defend their nation, and subsequently their houses.”
Stories of aged, sick individuals, and college students mobilized sparked some outrage in Russia.
Putin acknowledged “inevitable” issues initially of the call-up.
Shoigu assured him that each one points had been “fastened.”
The mobilization announcement in late September triggered an exodus of males overseas and small protests in Russia.
