Russia planning 'peripheral' mobilization of 300,000 men after elections, Zelensky says
Russia's voluntary recruitment system has increasingly struggled to make up for losses on the battlefield, while diminishing returns in Russian offensives on the front line have fuelled talk of a new wave of mobilization in the country.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has revealed that Russia intends to mobilize approximately 300,000 individuals following the upcoming State Duma elections in September. However, the plan is to avoid major cities to minimize societal backlash. Russia's voluntary recruitment system has been struggling to replace losses on the battlefield, further fueling discussions of a new wave of mobilization.
The Duma elections, while not truly democratic, are perceived as a test of support for President Vladimir Putin's regime. The Kremlin will announce the new draft of troops only after the elections. Zelensky stated that the mobilized troops will support existing recruit inflows, either bolstering Moscow's main offensive effort on Donetsk Oblast's "fortress belt" cities or creating new threats in other areas, such as Ukraine's northern border.
Historically, Russia has only once resorted to forced mobilization since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, in autumn 2022 when Ukrainian counteroffensives threatened Russia's defense lines. This move resulted in the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Russians from the country. Putin has since avoided further large-scale mobilization, fearing it would damage his image as a provider of strength and stability to the apathetic Russian populace.
Instead, Moscow has relied on lucrative bonuses for those who sign contracts, leaving regional authorities largely responsible for meeting recruitment quotas.
According to Zelensky, Putin aims to minimize political consequences by concentrating mobilization efforts in peripheral regions, excluding large population centers like Moscow and St Petersburg. However, Zelensky believes the Kremlin may struggle to conceal the plan.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Independent's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
