Russia likely to mobilize at least 300,000 more troops to Ukraine war, Zelensky warns

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia is likely to mobilize at least 300,000 more troops into Ukraine later this year. His remarks come as Russia attempts to complete its capture of a long-desired region in eastern Ukraine. Despite heavy losses in manpower, Zelensky anticipates that Russia will end the year with the same amount of territory it held at the beginning of the conflict.

Russian parliamentary elections are scheduled for next month, leading to speculation about a fresh mobilization despite protests and a mass exodus of young men. Zelensky believes Russian President Vladimir Putin will deploy the newly mobilized troops depending on the situation in eastern Ukraine. He has instructed his generals to complete the occupation of Donetsk by the end of the year, believing they will suffer significant losses.

Ukrainian forces are defending about 20% of Donetsk, including industrial towns like Slaviansk and Kramatorsk. Zelensky predicts that Russia will not succeed in capturing the entire Donetsk region. He also hints at potential Russian incursions into northern Ukrainian regions of Kharkiv and Sumy. Ukraine's air defenses have seen a decrease in Patriot missiles supplied this year, with only 264 expected compared to 675 in 2023.

Zelensky attributes this decline to American factors and suggests that if the US supplied up to 10% of its Patriot missile stocks to Ukraine, it could significantly impact civilian casualties and diplomatic relations. Ukraine is also facing challenges in acquiring Aster air defense missiles from Europe, despite a recent pledge by French President Emmanuel Macron.