Moscow - Approximately 45,000 residents of Moscow are currently engaged in combat operations in Ukraine, as disclosed by Sergei Sobyanin, the Mayor of Moscow, on August 16. This revelation offers a rare insight into the deployed forces, as both Russia and Ukraine typically refrain from disclosing specific details regarding soldiers involved or their respective casualties.

Sobyanin's statement, relayed by the Russian news agency Interfax, indicated that these Muscovite combatants are actively participating in the region's special military operation. He emphasized that this contingent constitutes a significant proportion of the overall fighters engaged in Ukraine.

Among these individuals, Sobyanin noted that at least 5,000 are professional soldiers. Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's Deputy Security Council Chairman, also commented that since the beginning of August, Russia has enlisted an additional 230,000 personnel into the military this year.

In a significant departure from normal practices, Russian President Vladimir Putin previously announced a "partial" military mobilization involving 300,000 troops to reinforce the frontlines. This marked Russia's first such mobilization since the Second World War and elicited considerable reactions as numerous men were drafted into the armed forces.

Opting not to declare a second mobilization effort, Moscow has instead initiated an extensive public relations campaign, aiming to entice Russians with financial incentives.

Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu had declared last year that Russia's military size would be augmented to 1.5 million individuals, as Moscow continues its offensive operations in Ukraine.