NOVO-OGAROVO, October 28. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu that only well-trained mobilized reservists should be sent to the front line in the special military operation in Ukraine.
"Actually speaking, 41,000 [fighters] are operating as part of combat units while all the rest are still undergoing combat training in one way or another," Putin said, after listening to the defense chief’s report.
The defense chief answered in the affirmative. "Yes. We are paying special attention to that. This is because it is necessary to send only well-trained and well-equipped fighters," Shoigu told the head of state.
Putin agreed with Shoigu, after listening to the defense chief’s report. "Excellent," Putin said. "I absolutely agree. This is how this should be done," the Russian leader said.
At Putin’s request, the defense chief specified that currently 218,000 out of 300,000 mobilized reservists "are undergoing training and practicing interoperability at practice ranges" and 82,000 men were operating in the area of the special military operation in Ukraine.
"Of these 82,000 [fighters], 41,000 men are operating as part of troop units," Shoigu said.
The defense chief reported to the head of state that 300,000 men had been called up in Russia for the special military operation. Therefore, the mobilization assignment had been fulfilled and no additional assignments were planned. Russian troops will be further augmented only through volunteers and applicants for military service under contract, Shoigu said.
