On February 23, coinciding with Defender of the Fatherland Day in Russia, President Vladimir Putin delivered a speech emphasizing the responsibilities of Russian soldiers. Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggest that the timing of this address may be an attempt to mitigate potential domestic backlash regarding future military conscription.
Putin’s remarks highlighted the “huge responsibility” soldiers bear for the Russian people and the collective cause of the nation. He called for a sense of patriotism and duty among all soldiers, regardless of their nationalities or faiths. The ISW interprets these calls as a precursor to increased sacrifices from the Russian populace to support military efforts, particularly through the upcoming conscription of reservists.
According to ISW analysts, Putin appears to be preparing for limited calls to reserve personnel to meet the demands of the military. This focus on responsibility in his speeches is likely aimed at fostering a sense of civic duty among Russians, potentially to soften the impact of any future compulsory mobilizations. The Russian leader seems aware of the internal dissatisfaction that such measures could provoke and is attempting to garner public support by normalizing the concepts of sacrifice and duty.
On the same day, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia, publicly supported Putin’s statements. Notably, Medvedev appeared in military uniform during a meeting with Russian servicemen, despite not being an active military member. He stated that Russia “needs” victory but emphasized that “the price of victory matters,” urging soldiers to take care of themselves and their families.
Medvedev’s comments hinted at a governmental commitment to protect any forcibly mobilized personnel, aiming to alleviate public concerns regarding the implications of future reservist calls. However, ISW analysts note that Russian forces have long relied on attrition tactics in combat, resulting in significant casualties without any substantial tactical changes to reduce losses.
The address by Medvedev was seen as an effort to socialize the concept of loss and sacrifice among the broader Russian population. In November 2022, Putin signed laws allowing for nearly continuous conscription into the armed forces and the mobilization of reservists for the protection of critical infrastructure.
Officially, Russia does not disclose its military casualties. The last reported figure, announced in September 2022, indicated 5,937 soldiers killed. However, independent Russian journalists have identified 186,102 military personnel who have died since the onset of the full-scale conflict with Ukraine, based on open-source data such as obituaries and social media records.
Estimates of total Russian losses, including both wounded and killed, from international organizations and intelligence agencies are considerably higher. In December 2025, a NATO official, speaking on condition of anonymity, informed the BBC Russian Service that the total number of killed and wounded in the Russian military could approach 1.15 million. The official noted that in November, daily casualties for Russia averaged around 1,100.
In a recent address, President Putin underscored the responsibilities of Russian soldiers, which analysts interpret as a strategy to prepare the public for potential future military conscription. The remarks coincide with ongoing discussions about the high casualty rates among Russian forces and the government's efforts to manage public sentiment regarding military losses.
Source: Institute for the Study of War