Russian president Vladimir Putin has denied knowledge of military draftees being sent to fight in the country’s war against Ukraine.

This is coming amidst a public outcry by angry Russian mothers who accused Mr Putin of sending their sons as “cannon fodders” in the invasion against Ukraine.

Defending his principal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Mr Putin had specifically asked for the exclusion of conscripts in the special military operation carried out against Ukraine.

However, new information from major-general Igor Konashenkov, official representative of the Russian Defense Ministry, revealed that several russian conscripts had been drafted in the war against Ukraine.

Mr Putin’s war in Ukraine appears not to be going very well according to his plan with Ukrainian forces holding their grounds in defiance and claiming successes in some instances as fighting enters day 15.

Mr Peskov noted that specific sanctions would be given to erring military officers who defied Mr Putin’s directive by enlisting conscripts for the war.

“Before the start of the special military operation, on the instructions of the President of Russia, Supreme Commander Vladimir Putin, all commanders of the units of the Armed Forces were instructed to categorically exclude the involvement of conscripts to perform any tasks on the territory of Ukraine. President Putin was reported on the implementation of this instruction,” said the Kremlin’s press secretary.

He further said “In connection with the facts of the presence of a number of conscripts in the units of the Armed Forces that are participating in a special military operation on the territory of Ukraine, at the direction of the President of Russia, materials were sent to the Chief Military Prosecutor’s Office to verify and legally assess the actions and punish officials responsible for non-compliance this order.” 

Mr Putin on February 24 invaded Ukrainian territory in a “special military operation” with the aim of demilitarising and denazifying the nation.