Russia admits conscripts have been fighting in Ukraine, despite Putin's previous denials

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https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/09/europe/russia-conscripts-fighting-ukraine-intl/index.html

Russia admits conscripts have been fighting in Ukraine, despite Putin's previous denials
By Sarah Dean and Rob Picheta, CNN
Updated 7:27 PM ET, Wed March 9, 2022

(CNN) Russia's Ministry of Defense has confirmed that Russian military conscripts have been involved in the invasion of Ukraine and that some were taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces, just a day after President Vladimir Putin insisted conscripts were not part of the assault.

The ministry admitted that conscripts were "discovered" in Ukraine but claimed they have already been withdrawn and returned to Russia.

"Unfortunately, several facts of the presence of conscripts in the units of the Russian armed forces involved in the conduct of a special military operation on the territory of Ukraine were discovered," Defense Ministry spokesperson Igor Konashenkov said in a video message.

A day earlier, in an International Women's Day address, Putin had reassured soldiers' mothers and wives that Russian conscripts are not taking part in his invasion of Ukraine, which he has referred to as a "special military operation."