Putin Suggests Russia's Weapons Are Outdated: Seeks 'Upgrades And Improvements' Amid Ukraine Setbacks

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday said Moscow's weapons should be modernized — a rare signal that the Kremlin thinks its military hardware is outdated amid massive setbacks in the Ukraine war. 

What Happened: “For example, for every item of gear or equipment, we must listen to those who use them and understand how these items perform and whether they are fit for their intended purpose,” Putin told his coordination council.

See Also: Putin’s Hands ‘Stained In Blood,’ Says Ukraine As It Seeks Russia’s Expulsion From G20

“The same applies to weapons, which need constant and uninterrupted upgrades and improvements to remain effective,” the Russian president said, adding “For this, as I said, it is essential that we promote competition among manufacturers and developers.”

The Kremlin says Putin made these remarks while his coordination council met to discuss what it dubbed as “arising issues” in the defense sector, among other industries.

This came nearly a month after Putin bragged about his country's arsenal and said Russia's weaponry was "more modern than those of NATO." 

"To those who allow themselves such statements regarding Russia, I want to remind you that our country also has various means of destruction, and for separate components and more modern than those of NATO countries, and when the territorial integrity of our country is threatened, to protect Russia and our people, we will certainly use all the means at our disposal," he said in a rare speech while announcing partial military mobilization.  

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian ministry of defense on Sunday said almost 1,000 soldiers were killed in just 24 hours of battle, the largest number of casualties on the Russian side since the beginning of the invasion.

Check out more of Benzinga’s Europe and Asia coverage by following this link.