(Dan Tri) - Russia is said to have begun recruiting troops from annexed areas in southern and eastern Ukraine, as the war of attrition between the two countries is about to enter its third year.
Russian soldiers in the Zaporizhia region (Photo: TASS).
“Young men from the Moscow-controlled Ukrainian territories have enlisted in the Russian army for the first time,” Russia’s independent news site iStories posted on Telegram on November 20, citing pro-Moscow officials from the four annexed regions.
Additionally, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported on a rally held in Simferopol, Crimea, to celebrate the enlistment of new recruits from the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions in southern Ukraine.
Russia has not commented on this information.
The war of attrition between Russia and Ukraine has entered its 1,000th day. Both sides have suffered losses in weapons and manpower, and are in a race for endurance on the front lines.
In addition to Kherson and Zaporizhia, iStories said Russia has also recruited new soldiers from Donetsk and Lugansk, two regions on the Donbass front.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on September 16 ordered an increase in the size of the Russian army by 180,000 troops to nearly 2.4 million, of which 1.5 million are combat troops. This is the third time Russia has expanded the size of its army since launching its military campaign in Ukraine.
Last month, General Christopher Cavoli, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, believed that no matter how the war in Ukraine ends, the Russian military will be stronger than it is now.
"When the war in Ukraine ends, no matter what, the Russian army will be stronger than it is today. The Russian armed forces are learning, improving and applying the experience gained in combat," Mr. Cavoli commented.
He warned that despite Russia's losses in the war with Ukraine, the Russian army would still be a formidable opponent for NATO. Therefore, according to him, NATO should not underestimate Moscow's military power.
In February, President Putin signed a decree on February 26 to reorganize the country's military. The decree included four regions annexed from Ukraine (Kherson, Zaporizhia, Lugansk, Donetsk) in Russia's Southern Military District. Russia annexed the above regions at the end of 2022 after controversial referendums in those regions.
To date, Russia has not been able to fully control these four provinces. Ukraine and the West also do not recognize Moscow's control over Kherson, Zaporizhia, Lugansk, and Donetsk. Kiev has made it clear that one of the prerequisites for resuming peace talks is that Russia must withdraw all troops from Ukrainian territories and restore Ukraine's internationally recognized borders of 1991, including the Crimean peninsula.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/nga-bat-dau-tuyen-tan-binh-tu-cac-khu-vuc-sap-nhap-o-ukraine-20241121142707997.htm
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