Putin said Russian conscripts weren't fighting in Ukraine. The Russian Defense Ministry says they are.

Russian conscripts in 2013
(Image credit: OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images)

It seems Russian President Vladimir Putin and his military are not on the same page.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday that conscripts had been sent to war in Ukraine, contradicting Putin's assertion that conscripted soldiers "are not participating and will not participate" in the conflict, The New York Times reports.

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Grayson Quay

Grayson Quay was the weekend editor at TheWeek.com. His writing has also been published in National Review, the Pittsburgh Post-GazetteModern AgeThe American ConservativeThe Spectator World, and other outlets. Grayson earned his M.A. from Georgetown University in 2019.