Expressing The Number Of Soldiers Who Died In Ukraine, Russia's Defense Minister Values For Mobilization Of Assistance Consolidate Areas Behind Frontlines

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu inspected the troops. (Wikimedia Commons/Presidential Executive Office of Russia)

JAKARTA - For the first time the Russian Defense Minister has renewed the number of his military killed in Ukraine, saying mobilization helps consolidate the region, but a number of things remain a concern.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in a televised address said the country would prepare 300,000 reserve troops to support the military campaign in Ukraine.

In Moscow's first update of the nearly six-month fighting toll, Minister Shoigu said 5,397 Russian troops had been killed since the start of the conflict.

Shoigu dismissed Kyiv and West statements that Russia had suffered heavy losses in its seven-month campaign, saying 90 percent of the injured Russian troops had returned to the front lines.

This is the first time Russia has given an official death toll since March 25 when it said 1,351 soldiers had died.

Earlier, the United States Department of Defense said last August it believed between 70,000 and 80,000 Russian personnel had been killed or injured. In July, they estimated Russia's death toll was around 15,000.

At the same time, Minister Shoigu said Russia had 25 million potential fighters available.

Meanwhile, a decision published on the Kremlin website said the mobilization would only apply to reserve forces with previous military experience.

The Defense Minister said this meant about 300,000 people. He said they would be given additional training before being deployed to Ukraine. And, they will not include students or those who only serve as military service.

Interestingly, Minister Shoigu said mobilization would help Russia "consolidate" the region it holds behind the 1,000 km (600 miles) frontline in Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russia's first mobilization since the Second World War in a televised address this morning, saying additional manpower is needed to win the war not only against Ukraine but also its Western supporters.