Putin's Annual Address Highlights Military Deployment
During his yearly press conference and public question session held in Moscow on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia has deployed around 700,000 troops in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
He emphasized that a significant portion of these forces consists of younger individuals, particularly those from the 1990s generation. When questioned about whether this group represents a lost generation, Putin responded: "Well, we live under the conditions of the military special operation." This terminology is officially used by the Kremlin to describe its military actions in Ukraine.
Demographic Challenges Amidst Conflict
The event, which combines a press conference with public inquiries, also focused on Russia's demographic issues, including calls for increased birth rates among the youth. Putin expressed concern over declining birth rates, noting that despite various government initiatives, the trend persists, exacerbated by the war and casualties.
In September, Putin had previously mentioned a figure exceeding 700,000 personnel at the frontlines. Ukrainian sources have cited similar numbers, encompassing special units and support services, though the exact count of combatants remains unclear.
Russia initiated a full-scale invasion of Ukraine nearly four years ago, leading to a prolonged and destructive war with substantial losses on both sides.
