Vladimir Putin has vowed that his forces will win their "righteous battle" in Ukraine - and has drafted 135,000 new troops as part of a mammoth autumn recruitment drive.
Russia's mandatory military service sees young men called up to serve each spring and autumn, but this year's conscription drive is the largest in almost a decade.
In a video celebrating the three-year anniversary of Russian forces' annexation of the Luhansk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk areas of Ukraine, Mr Putin said his country's "fighters and commanders" are going "on the attack".
The Russian leader added: "The entire country, all of Russia, is waging this righteous battle and working hard".
Mr Putin said his country's 'fighters and commanders' are going 'on the attack'
| GETTYThe Kremlin has also warned that peace cannot be agreed until Kyiv agrees to give up the four captured regions, with Ukraine rejecting the demand.
Mr Putin said: “Together we are defending our love for the motherland and the unity of our historical destiny, we are fighting and we are prevailing."
The Russian leader also confirmed that his Government is no longer in dialogue with Ukraine over a potential peace agreement.
He has long claimed that his country is facing "Satanic" Western forces and a battle for its very existence.
Russia's mandatory military service sees young men called up to serve each spring and autumn
| GETTYRussia's mandatory conscription requires all men aged 18-30 to carry out at least one year of service.
The recruitment drive is part of Mr Putin's expansion of his country's armed forces, as Russia aims to have 1.5 million active personnel in place by the end of the year.
As of April this year, just over 180,000 people made up the entire British Armed Forces.
According to the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Russian casualties have surpassed the one million mark since Mr Putin's invasion of Ukraine began in 2022.
The CSIS also noted that Russia's fatalities in Ukraine are around five times that of all Russian and Soviet casualties in all conflicts combined since the conclusion of the Second World War.
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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this week that there are no plans currently to revive peace talks
|REUTERS
On Monday, the Russian Defence Ministry claimed it had seized control of the Shandryholove and Zarichne villages in Ukraine's Donetsk region.
Mr Putin's Defence Minister Andrei Belousov issued a statement congratulating his forces for their "bold and decisive" actions in capturing the settlements on the frontline.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is yet to acknowledge the seizure, but said his forces have made ground in a counter-offensive operation close to the city of Dobropillia.
Despite diplomatic efforts from US President Donald Trump and European leaders, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said this week that there are no plans currently to revive peace talks.
Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have not met since July.
PICTURED: Vladimir Putin's 'inner circle'. Andrei Belousov issued a statement congratulating his forces for their 'bold and decisive' actions
| GB NEWSThe US Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Keith Kellogg, has now indicated that Mr Zelensky may be given the green light to carry out strikes deep into Russia.
Mr Kellogg said: "Reading what [Mr Trump] has said and reading what Vice President JD Vance has said, as well as secretary of state Marco Rubio, the answer is yes.
"Use the ability to hit deep. There are no such things as sanctuaries."
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