Putin claims a surge of volunteers is shifting the Ukraine conflict’s momentum in Russia’s favor

President Vladimir Putin stated on Monday that the significant number of men voluntarily enlisting in the Russian military is shifting the dynamics of the Ukraine conflict in favor of Moscow, expressing optimism that his forces will continue to make progress.

In a speech delivered at the Defence Ministry, Putin noted that Russian troops have successfully driven the Ukrainian army from nearly 200 settlements this year and maintained the initiative across the entire frontline. This comes as his military is reportedly advancing at its fastest rate since 2022, as indicated by open-source mapping.

“I want to emphasize that the past year has been pivotal in achieving the objectives of the special military operation in Ukraine,” Putin remarked to senior military officials. “Russian forces have firmly established control over the strategic initiative along the entire contact line, liberating 189 population centers this year alone.”

He highlighted that approximately 430,000 Russians have signed military contracts this year, an increase from around 300,000 the previous year, which he deemed crucial for Russia’s military efforts.

“This influx of volunteers shows no signs of stopping. As a result, we are witnessing a turning point on the frontline,” Putin asserted.

Andrei Belousov, the defense minister, informed the same audience that Russian forces have reclaimed nearly 4,500 square kilometers (1,737 square miles) of territory this year, advancing at an average rate of 30 square kilometers (11.5 square miles) per day. Belousov also indicated that Russian military planning must be prepared for any scenario, including the most severe, such as a potential conflict with NATO in Europe over the next decade.

In his recent address, Putin accused Western nations of driving Russia to its “red lines,” which are scenarios that Russia has explicitly stated it will not accept. He claimed that Moscow had no choice but to react.

Putin remarked, “Western leaders are merely instilling fear in their own citizens by suggesting that we intend to launch an attack, using the fabricated notion of a Russian threat as justification.” He elaborated, “The strategy is straightforward: they push us to a ‘red line’ from which we cannot back down. When we begin to respond, they quickly invoke fear among their populace—previously with the Soviet threat and now with the Russian threat.”

He expressed that Russia is closely monitoring the United States’ advancements and potential deployment of short- and medium-range missiles, indicating that Russia would reconsider its self-imposed limitations on such missile deployments if the U.S. proceeded with its plans.