Conflict in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin speaks of a breakthrough. "Complete takeover of the initiative"

"Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said that Russian troops are rapidly advancing in Ukraine. Vladimir Putin assessed that a breakthrough favorable to Russia had occurred.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin attended a meeting of the board of the Russian Defense Ministry. He reported that the number of Russians signing contracts with the Defense Ministry had increased: in 2023, there were supposed to be over 300,000 such people, in 2024 - over 430,000.

Putin also referred to the conflict in Ukraine, which the Kremlin calls a "special military operation." - I would like to note right away that the past year was a breakthrough in terms of achieving the goals of the special military operation - he said. He added that in 2024, Russia liberated 189 towns.

The Russian leader argued that the military and political situation in the world remains "difficult and unstable". In his speech, he criticized the West - he said that the current US administration and the authorities of the so-called collective West are not giving up on trying to maintain dominance. He added that the United States is interfering in the conflict in Ukraine and sending weapons and money to Kiev, trying to bring about Russia's strategic defeat. Putin also stated that NATO countries are increasing their military spending and gathering forces near Russia. He noted that Russia is watching with concern the development and potential deployment of short- and medium-range missiles by the United States. He declared that Russia would lift restrictions on the deployment of its own missiles if the United States decides to deploy such missiles.

The Russian president said that the West imposes its rules on the world. He stated that the West has led Russia to its "red lines" and declared that Moscow cannot ignore this. In turn, he once again called the Ukrainian authorities illegitimate, and also mentioned that President Volodymyr Zelensky's term has already expired.

Referring to the conflict in Ukraine, Putin argued that Russia is not fighting the Ukrainian people, but the "regime in Kiev". He argued that Ukraine's potential decision to lower the age of conscription to 18 will not change anything on the battlefield. He also said that there had been a breakthrough on the front "along the entire line of combat contact" and that Russian troops were conducting operations that had led to their "complete seizure of the strategic initiative." He also referred to the fighting in Kursk Oblast, where Ukrainians had been conducting raids since August. "Here, of course, the sacred duty of the armed forces is to throw the enemy out of our territory," he said.

Ukraine has already lost tens of thousands of soldiers, hundreds of thousands have been wounded. Opposition politicians are warning the authorities that another lowering of the age of mobilization would provoke an "extremely negative" reaction from society. The military has a different opinion.

Andrei Belousov: Russian troops are making rapid progress in Ukraine

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said that Russia must be ready for various scenarios, including a possible armed conflict with NATO in the coming decade. He assured Putin that the goals he had set would be achieved. 

He also said that Russian troops have now “significantly accelerated” their advance and are liberating an area of ​​approximately 30 km2 every day.

Referring to the Russian military, the minister declared that “there are practically no disruptions in the supply of particularly popular types of ammunition, weapons and equipment”. He calculated that Russian soldiers use 3.5 thousand drones every day and that this number is constantly growing. He said that Russian air defense is effective. He claimed that in 2024, the Russians shot down 86 Storm Shadow and SCALP cruise missiles, 215 ATACMS ballistic missiles, 1,629 HIMARS missiles and over 27 thousand drones."