Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday told women in his country to be “proud” of their male relatives’ participation in the invasion of Ukraine, as videos circulating on social media indicated a major popular reaction to the war.

In a speech marking International Women’s Day, Putin took a moment to address “the mothers, wives, sisters and fiancées of our men and officers, who are fighting to defend Russia in the special military operation.” – the euphemistic term favored by the Kremlin to describe the bloody assault on the western neighbor of Moscow.

“I know you are worried about your loved ones,” he said. “You can be proud of them, just as the whole country is proud and concerned about them.”

In the same speech, Putin insisted that neither conscripts nor reservists would be called upon to take part in the brutal fighting.

“Only professional soldiers perform the tasks assigned to them,” he said.

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Thousands of Russian citizens have been detained in anti-war protests across the country since the invasion began, with many accusing Putin’s regime of covering up the true nature of the conflict. Captured Russian soldiers have been recorded saying they had no idea they were being sent to Ukraine until the last minute before the order to invade.

In Siberia, video obtained by Britain’s Daily Telegraph Monday showed mothers of soldiers shouting at a regional governor trying to explain the war.