Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has denied reports that Russian conscripts are being forced to sign contracts with the Defense Ministry and sent to the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces have been advancing for over four weeks.
Peskov labeled the reports as an "absolute distortion of reality" during a press briefing on Wednesday.
The Kremlin’s dismissal comes at a time of increased concerns over the fate of Russian conscripts.
Reports suggest that hundreds of conscripts have gone missing or been captured by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) during the ongoing incursion. Independent Russian media outlet IStories has identified over 100 of these missing soldiers.
Video evidence analyzed by The Washington Post indicates that Ukrainian forces have captured more than 240 Russian soldiers since the beginning of the AFU’s offensive.
Some of the captured soldiers reportedly identified themselves as conscripts, raising questions about the Kremlin's repeated assurances that conscripts would not be sent to the front lines.
Further reports on Russian social media platform VK claimed that Russian Airborne Forces conscripts had been deployed to the Kursk region.
These posts were quickly removed, with the platform labeling them as "false information," according to independent media outlet 7x7.
These reports directly contradict statements made by Russian President Vladimir Putin since 2022, assuring the public that young conscripts would not be sent into active combat.
The Kremlin has declined to comment further on the issue.
