Putin Pleads With Weapons Makers to 'Urgently' Ramp Up Production

Russian President Vladimir Putin is calling for a swift uptick in weapons and ammunition production as the war against Ukraine intensifies at their border.

His insistence comes in response to continued battlefield woes and a less-than-stellar stock market reaction to troop mobilization. On Monday, the Ukrainian military said it destroyed a Russian barge carrying weapons, military equipment and troops in an embattled area of the Dnipro River.

A video posted by journalist Mary Ilyushina shows Putin meeting with military complex higher-ups on Tuesday. Quoting Putin, she wrote on Twitter that a boost in production is necessary to "urgently" supply the armed forces while ensuring "100% import substitution in this sector."

It's a change in tone from just over a month ago, when Putin bragged at the opening of the Army-2022 International Military-Technical Forum and the International Army Games 2022 in Moscow about Russia's weapons being "decades ahead of their foreign counterparts."

Putin said Tuesday that Russian weapons were showing great effectiveness in Ukraine, Reuters reported.

On Tuesday, the MOEX Russia Index—the ruble-denominated benchmark of the Russian stock market—fell more than 2 percent year-over-year, per data from Trading Economics. The drop was partially attributed to investor concerns regarding decreased energy exports to Europe resulting in smaller profits.

Another reason might involve heightened discussions surrounding mass mobilization, with many Russian officials pointing to the need for more volunteers to engage in the "special military operation" against Ukraine.

Although a potential hindrance to its own economy, Russia might not have many other options.

Ukraine continues its counteroffensive in areas like Kharkiv, eliminating Russian soldiers while reclaiming territory.

"The Russians are performing so poorly that the news from Kharkiv province has inspired many Russian volunteers to refuse combat," one Pentagon official said, according to a report published by the Department of Defense.

In response, new legislation passed Tuesday by the Russian parliament's lower house, the State Duma, allows the government to imprison for up to 10 years soldiers who vacate the battlefield.

Those absent for two to 10 days could face up to five years in prison, up from the previous one-year punishment. Those missing between 10 days and one month could be jailed for seven years, an increase from the previous three years.

A prison sentence of a minimum two years, and potentially up to 10 years, is on the table for soldiers who disobey superiors' orders during wartime. Soldiers could also face legal liability for looting, destruction of weapons and military equipment, and unauthorized surrender.

The amended criminal code also includes the previously unmentioned concepts of "mobilization, martial law and wartime."

Newsweek reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.