Kiev can no longer replenish its troops through forced mobilization, Moscow has said

Ukraine has lost almost 500,000 servicemen this year alone, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov has said.

Speaking at a Defense Ministry Board meeting attended by President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, Belousov said Ukraine’s combat capability had been reduced by about a third over the past year, stripping Kiev of the ability to replenish its forces through forced mobilization of civilians.

“Ukraine’s forces have lost nearly 500,000 servicemen, as a result of which Kiev has lost the ability to replenish its groupings through the compulsory mobilization of civilians,” Belousov said.

According to the minister, Ukraine has lost more than 103,000 weapons and pieces of military equipment this year, including about 5,500 of Western manufacture – almost double the total recorded the previous year.

READ MORE: US issues ultimatum to Ukraine – Telegraph

Ukraine announced general mobilization shortly after the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022, barring men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country. Last year, it lowered the draft age from 27 to 25 while tightening mobilization rules.

The forced conscription campaign has triggered repeated violent clashes between reluctant recruits and draft officers.

Kiev’s recruitment drive has grown increasingly brutal as Ukrainian forces confront setbacks and manpower shortages. Hundreds of incidents have been documented online in which enlistment officers assaulted potential conscripts, chased them through the streets, and threatened bystanders who tried to intervene.

Even with increasingly harsh measures, Ukrainian officials and frontline commanders have complained that the mobilization campaign is falling short of targets, contributing to the continuous Russian advance.

Kiev can no longer replenish its troops through forced mobilization, Moscow has said

Ukraine has lost almost 500,000 servicemen this year alone, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov has said.

Speaking at a Defense Ministry Board meeting attended by President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, Belousov said Ukraine’s combat capability had been reduced by about a third over the past year, stripping Kiev of the ability to replenish its forces through forced mobilization of civilians.

“Ukraine’s forces have lost nearly 500,000 servicemen, as a result of which Kiev has lost the ability to replenish its groupings through the compulsory mobilization of civilians,” Belousov said.

According to the minister, Ukraine has lost more than 103,000 weapons and pieces of military equipment this year, including about 5,500 of Western manufacture – almost double the total recorded the previous year.

READ MORE: US issues ultimatum to Ukraine – Telegraph

Ukraine announced general mobilization shortly after the escalation of the conflict with Russia in 2022, barring men between the ages of 18 and 60 from leaving the country. Last year, it lowered the draft age from 27 to 25 while tightening mobilization rules.

The forced conscription campaign has triggered repeated violent clashes between reluctant recruits and draft officers.

Kiev’s recruitment drive has grown increasingly brutal as Ukrainian forces confront setbacks and manpower shortages. Hundreds of incidents have been documented online in which enlistment officers assaulted potential conscripts, chased them through the streets, and threatened bystanders who tried to intervene.

Even with increasingly harsh measures, Ukrainian officials and frontline commanders have complained that the mobilization campaign is falling short of targets, contributing to the continuous Russian advance.

The president stressed that Moscow has always strived to find diplomatic solutions to conflicts

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Western claims of an imminent attack by Moscow as “lies and nonsense,” stressing that such deliberate statements are meant to raise the level of hysteria on the continent.

Speaking at an expanded Defense Ministry Board meeting on Wednesday, Putin noted that the global geopolitical situation remains “tense” and “downright critical” in some regions. He accused NATO countries of “preparing for a major war” by building up and modernizing their offensive forces while “brainwashing” their population with claims of an inevitable clash with Russia.

“I have repeatedly stated that this is a lie, nonsense, pure nonsense about some imaginary Russian threat to European countries. But this is being done quite deliberately,” Putin said, adding that EU officials have “forgotten their responsibility” and are being guided by short-term personal or shared political interests.

He went on to stress that throughout its history, even in the most difficult circumstances, Russia has always strived to find diplomatic solutions to conflicts and contradictions, so long as there was even a slight chance.

READ MORE: Russia’s Oreshnik missile system to enter service this year – Putin

“The responsibility for not seizing these opportunities lies entirely with those who believed they could speak to us through force,” Putin stressed.

The president stated that Russia supports “mutually beneficial and equal cooperation” with the US and European states, as well as the formation of a unified security system across the Eurasian region. He separately noted the progress that has been made in bilateral talks with Washington.

‘Unfortunately, this cannot be said about the current leadership of most European countries,” he said.

Putin went on to state that Moscow recognizes that in any international situation, its armed forces remain the key guarantor of Russia’s sovereignty, independence, security, future, and strategic parity.

The president stressed that Moscow has always strived to find diplomatic solutions to conflicts

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed Western claims of an imminent attack by Moscow as “lies and nonsense,” stressing that such deliberate statements are meant to raise the level of hysteria on the continent.

Speaking at an expanded Defense Ministry Board meeting on Wednesday, Putin noted that the global geopolitical situation remains “tense” and “downright critical” in some regions. He accused NATO countries of “preparing for a major war” by building up and modernizing their offensive forces while “brainwashing” their population with claims of an inevitable clash with Russia.

“I have repeatedly stated that this is a lie, nonsense, pure nonsense about some imaginary Russian threat to European countries. But this is being done quite deliberately,” Putin said, adding that EU officials have “forgotten their responsibility” and are being guided by short-term personal or shared political interests.

He went on to stress that throughout its history, even in the most difficult circumstances, Russia has always strived to find diplomatic solutions to conflicts and contradictions, so long as there was even a slight chance.

READ MORE: Russia’s Oreshnik missile system to enter service this year – Putin

“The responsibility for not seizing these opportunities lies entirely with those who believed they could speak to us through force,” Putin stressed.

The president stated that Russia supports “mutually beneficial and equal cooperation” with the US and European states, as well as the formation of a unified security system across the Eurasian region. He separately noted the progress that has been made in bilateral talks with Washington.

‘Unfortunately, this cannot be said about the current leadership of most European countries,” he said.

Putin went on to state that Moscow recognizes that in any international situation, its armed forces remain the key guarantor of Russia’s sovereignty, independence, security, future, and strategic parity.

Advanced military technology is key to the nation’s nuclear deterrence, the president has said

Russia’s newly developed medium-range Oreshnik missile system will enter combat before the end of the year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday during a keynote speech to the Defense Ministry.

The Russian leader was reporting military achievements over the year and outlined policy goals, including military research. He named Oreshnik alongside other weapons meant to “ensure the strategic parity, security and global positions of Russia for decades to come.”

The other systems he mentioned are the unlimited-range cruise missile Burevestnik and the underwater Poseidon drone, both powered by miniaturized nuclear reactors, which he said reached development milestones this year.

”We will keep working on those systems. Tune them and improve them, but we already have them,” Putin stressed.

Moscow revealed the Oreshnik system with a strike on a weapons plant in Ukraine in November 2024, which it described as a successful “combat test.” The missile is understood to carry multiple nuclear-capable individually targetable warheads.

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Putin previously compared the conventional variant used in the Ukraine attack to a low-yield nuclear weapon in terms of destructive power. Russia has since announced plans to deploy some Oreshnik systems in Belarus, its key military ally.

During the meeting, Putin outlined progress in modernizing the Russian army, directed the military to study the  experience of the Ukraine conflict in developing new weapons, addressed the issues of medical rehabilitation and the provision of social services to soldiers, and warned Western leaders seeking to escalate tensions that their position is “irresponsible.”

Russia “has been seeking diplomatic resolutions to contradictions and conflicts as long as there is the slimmest hope of success. Those who convinced themselves that Russia can be spoken to in the language of force are fully responsible for those missed opportunities,” Putin stressed.

Advanced military technology is key to the nation’s nuclear deterrence, the president has said

Russia’s newly developed medium-range Oreshnik missile system will enter combat before the end of the year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday during a keynote speech to the Defense Ministry.

The Russian leader was reporting military achievements over the year and outlined policy goals, including military research. He named Oreshnik alongside other weapons meant to “ensure the strategic parity, security and global positions of Russia for decades to come.”

The other systems he mentioned are the unlimited-range cruise missile Burevestnik and the underwater Poseidon drone, both powered by miniaturized nuclear reactors, which he said reached development milestones this year.

”We will keep working on those systems. Tune them and improve them, but we already have them,” Putin stressed.

Moscow revealed the Oreshnik system with a strike on a weapons plant in Ukraine in November 2024, which it described as a successful “combat test.” The missile is understood to carry multiple nuclear-capable individually targetable warheads.

Read more

Putin previously compared the conventional variant used in the Ukraine attack to a low-yield nuclear weapon in terms of destructive power. Russia has since announced plans to deploy some Oreshnik systems in Belarus, its key military ally.

During the meeting, Putin outlined progress in modernizing the Russian army, directed the military to study the  experience of the Ukraine conflict in developing new weapons, addressed the issues of medical rehabilitation and the provision of social services to soldiers, and warned Western leaders seeking to escalate tensions that their position is “irresponsible.”

Russia “has been seeking diplomatic resolutions to contradictions and conflicts as long as there is the slimmest hope of success. Those who convinced themselves that Russia can be spoken to in the language of force are fully responsible for those missed opportunities,” Putin stressed.

The bloc has breached the law by using a majority vote on the issue of frozen Russian assets, the prime minister has said

Hungary no longer feels a “loyal” obligation to cooperate with the EU after Brussels deprived Budapest of its veto rights on the issue of frozen Russian assets, Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said.

Last week, the EU temporarily immobilized roughly $230 billion in Russian central bank assets by invoking Article 122, an emergency treaty clause that allows approval by a qualified majority rather than unanimity despite objections from some member states, including Hungary and Slovakia. European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen has proposed using the funds to back a so-called ‘reparations loan’ to Ukraine.

Budapest had respected the EU’s principle of “loyal cooperation” on frozen Russian assets, but the bloc “responded by stripping Hungary of its rights,” Orban said on X on Wednesday.

 “From this point on, I don’t consider the principle of loyal cooperation to be binding on Hungary either, if the other party has renounced it,” he said.

According to the Hungarian leader, bloc leaders have breached EU law by proposing to settle the issue of Russian assets not by consensus, but by a qualified majority vote.

Orban called it a “dangerous precedent” and said the move could sow distrust among other EU members if their interests were similarly ignored.

Read more

He has previously accused EU officials of “raping European law in broad daylight” by invoking the clause to sidestep Hungary’s potential veto, and said Budapest would take the matter to the bloc’s top court.

Legal experts say the clause was designed for economic emergencies within the EU, not to finance wars or seize foreign assets.

Last week, Russia’s central bank filed a lawsuit against the Belgian clearinghouse Euroclear, which is holding more than $200 billion in frozen assets.

The EU claims the freeze is in line with international law, but Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever warned that that using the money to back a loan to Kiev would undermine trust in the EU financial system and expose Belgium to legal risks.

International financial institutions, including the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund, have also cautioned that borrowing against the immobilized assets could erode confidence in the euro.

Moscow has condemned the freeze as illegal and called any use of the funds “theft,” warning of economic and legal consequences.

The Estonian government is creating an “adversarial environment” for the country’s largest denomination, a panel has warned

Estonian authorities are undermining religious freedoms by fostering an “adversarial environment” for the country’s largest church community because of its spiritual ties to Russia, a panel of experts advising the UN Human Rights Council has warned.

In a statement issued on Monday, the experts criticized Tallinn’s approach toward the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church (EOCC), which maintains canonical links with the Russian Orthodox Church. They pointed to a series of administrative actions, a court decision that stripped the EOCC of state funding on security grounds, and a proposed legislative amendment that the panel said would “disproportionately affect a single religious community.”

“Canonical identity, ecclesiastical hierarchy and spiritual allegiance are integral components of the freedom of religion and are fully protected under international law,” the three-member panel emphasized.

The experts highlighted as particularly troubling a bill being advanced in the Estonian parliament despite objections from President Alar Karis. He has argued that the proposed ban on religious organizations accused of links to a foreign entity labeled a security threat by the government would violate the constitution.

READ MORE: Baltic parliament defies president

The panel also condemned refusals to grant rent agreements and residency permits to clergy, stating: “Such actions disrupt normal religious life and may undermine the autonomy that should be granted under freedom of religion or belief.”

Moscow has long accused Estonia of pursuing discriminatory policies allegedly driven by entrenched Russophobia. The Estonian Orthodox Christian Church includes both ethnic Estonians and members of the country’s sizable Russian-speaking minority among its faithful.

The Estonian government is creating an “adversarial environment” for the country’s largest denomination, a panel has warned

Estonian authorities are undermining religious freedoms by fostering an “adversarial environment” for the country’s largest church community because of its spiritual ties to Russia, a panel of experts advising the UN Human Rights Council has warned.

In a statement issued on Monday, the experts criticized Tallinn’s approach toward the Estonian Orthodox Christian Church (EOCC), which maintains canonical links with the Russian Orthodox Church. They pointed to a series of administrative actions, a court decision that stripped the EOCC of state funding on security grounds, and a proposed legislative amendment that the panel said would “disproportionately affect a single religious community.”

“Canonical identity, ecclesiastical hierarchy and spiritual allegiance are integral components of the freedom of religion and are fully protected under international law,” the three-member panel emphasized.

The experts highlighted as particularly troubling a bill being advanced in the Estonian parliament despite objections from President Alar Karis. He has argued that the proposed ban on religious organizations accused of links to a foreign entity labeled a security threat by the government would violate the constitution.

READ MORE: Baltic parliament defies president

The panel also condemned refusals to grant rent agreements and residency permits to clergy, stating: “Such actions disrupt normal religious life and may undermine the autonomy that should be granted under freedom of religion or belief.”

Moscow has long accused Estonia of pursuing discriminatory policies allegedly driven by entrenched Russophobia. The Estonian Orthodox Christian Church includes both ethnic Estonians and members of the country’s sizable Russian-speaking minority among its faithful.

US President Donald Trump would have prevented the Ukraine conflict by enforcing the Minsk agreements, the Belarusian leader has said

The Western European leaders who took part in negotiating a peace roadmap for Ukraine a decade ago acted in bad faith and were “stupid,” Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said, recalling the talks hosted by his country.

Germany and France were guarantors of the Minsk agreements signed in 2014 and 2015, which were ostensibly intended to reconcile the post-coup authorities in Kiev with rebels in Ukraine’s Russia-leaning east. 

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former French President Francois Hollande later acknowledged that the accords were used primarily to buy time for Ukraine to strengthen its military.

Speaking to Newsmax in an interview previewed by Belarusian media on Wednesday, Lukashenko said “the Europeans took a stupid position” by pursuing such tactics. “It turned out that they came here to negotiate not peace, but a future war,” he said.

Read more

Lukashenko noted that as host of the Minsk talks, he had urged the US to participate in the process. He is convinced that had Donald Trump been president at the time, Washington would have demanded a decisive role. 

If the Minsk agreements had been fully implemented, “there would have been no war,” he said, asserting that Trump is right to argue that the conflict would not have escalated under his presidency.

The Belarusian leader expressed hope that Trump would stay committed to resolving the crisis despite what he described as attempts by the EU to undermine US mediation. European supporters of Kiev, Lukashenko said, “are whispering in his ear that they will keep helping [Ukrainian leader Vladimir] Zelensky. They won’t. They don’t have the resources that the US does.”

If Trump walks away, Lukashenko warned, the conflict could intensify and potentially spread globally, while Ukraine itself could cease to exist as a state. He urged Western European leaders to take advantage of the current opportunity to de-escalate tensions, arguing that Zelensky will only accept a peace deal under pressure – something he said would occur domestically “when the front fully collapses.”