Putin says 270,000 people in Russia have voluntarily signed military contracts over past 6-7 months

The Russian propaganda agency TASS reports this, citing the words of the Russian president at the Eastern Economic Forum.

According to Putin, 1-1.5 thousand people allegedly come to sign contracts with the Russian Armed Forces every day. 

"Russian men sign contracts with the Russian Armed Forces consciously and voluntarily, realizing that they will be in a combat zone. The Russian military knows that they have whom to protect, "they are protecting our people," he said.

• At the same time, a number of Russian military units are creating separate mercenary units involving Central Asian migrants to postpone general mobilization