- A very rare public admission from the Russian president.
More than 15 months into his war of [? choice, ?] Putin
confirms his military is short on high-precision ammunition,
as well as attack drones.
Putin says the Russian weapon quality is improving
and the defense industry is improving output,
but more equipment, he says, is needed.
VLADIMIR PUTIN: [SPEAKING IN RUSSIAN]
- Of course, during the special military operation,
it became clear that we don't have enough of some things.
These are high-precision munitions,
communications equipment, UAVs.
Yes, drone aircraft, we have them.
Unfortunately, we need greater quantities.
Our production is growing.
Performance is growing.
Range and accuracy are increasing.
If it had not been for the special military operation,
we would never have understood how to fine tune
our military production so that our army
is the best in the world.
But we will do it.
STEVE HALL: For me, the really fascinating question
is, why does Vladimir Putin choose to address this?
And I think, again, we have to turn to history in Russia.
There have been so many Russian leaders
who after a failed or stalemated war
did not survive in power afterward.
I wonder whether Putin is thinking
about that, whether he's beginning to see,
OK, I'm not going to win it.
The best I can hope for is some kind of draw,
some sort of frozen conflict.
But if that happens, how will I survive politically?
And I wonder whether or not he's trying
to prepare the Russian population for that eventuality
and trying to figure out a soft landing for himself.