President Vladimir Putin said on Monday that the large number of men signing up for the Russian military was helping to turn the tide on the battlefield in Ukraine in Moscow's favor, Reuters reported.
Roughly 430,000 Russians had signed army contracts this year, up from roughly 300,000 the year before, Putin told a meeting of defense officials.
The Kremlin chief said he hoped Russian troops would maintain their pace at the front, but cautioned that Moscow could increase military spending currently at 6.3% of gross domestic product - indefinitely.
According to AFP, Putin on Monday also hailed his army's accelerating advance in Ukraine and praised 2024 as a "landmark" year in the course of Moscow's military offensive.
Addressing top military generals in an end-of-year meeting, the Kremlin leader struck a defiant and optimistic tone, claiming his troops had the upper hand across the entire front line.
He also hit out at what he called a Western "hybrid war" and its attempts to inflict a "strategic defeat" on Moscow.
Both Moscow and Kyiv are seeking to improve their position on the battlefield before US President-elect Donald Trump comes to power in January.
The Republican has repeatedly said he could strike a ceasefire in hours, without presenting a plan, and speculation about peace talks is mounting.
