Putin to hold Russian Security Council meeting on Thurs

MOSCOW. March 3 (Interfax) - President Vladimir Putin will hold a meeting with permanent members of the Russian Security Council on Thursday, during which he is expected, inter alia, to speak about casualties of the military operation in Donbas.

Putin is scheduled to have a number of international telephone calls and a conference with the Russian Security Council permanent members on Thursday, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

Putin's introductory words at the Security Council meeting should be open to the public, he said.

Peskov was asked to comment on reports about Russian casualties in the course of the military operation in Donbas, including the president's reaction to this information.

"We expect that the president will speak on the matter precisely at the outset of the conference with the Russian Security Council's permanent members," Peskov said.