‘They Will Hang Me’: Putin Fears Defeat in Ukraine, Plans to Send 400,000 More Russians to War

Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly contemplating the dispatch of up to 400,000 additional Russian soldiers to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to Kremlin insiders. The Kremlin may not need to issue a fresh mobilization decree, as the one signed by Putin in September 2022 remains active, enabling authorities to enlist more troops without a new national order, according to the report.

One source claimed Putin fears defeat in Ukraine could spell his downfall, stating, "They will hang me," to close associates. The planned recruitment may be delegated to Russia’s regional authorities, who could apply pressure to meet quotas while avoiding widespread unrest. This approach is already being piloted in Russia’s Penza region, where residents have reportedly been apprehended on the streets and forced to join the fight in Ukraine.

Putin's push for a more aggressive stance comes amid Russia's struggling military efforts, as the country remains unable to secure a decisive advantage despite years of warfare. A Kremlin insider noted that pursuing the war on "inertia" is becoming increasingly expensive, sapping both economic resources and political capital. The Kremlin might also expand its hybrid campaign against Ukraine's Western backers, potentially targeting European factories manufacturing weapons and military equipment for Ukraine.

However, Kremlin sources believe Putin is reluctant to engage in a direct confrontation with NATO. Domestically, Putin could intensify repression against political rivals to project strength, despite his opponents posing little immediate threat to his grip on power. The Kremlin reportedly viewed a recent visit to Moscow by the CIA director as a sign of weakness.

Despite mounting discontent among Russia’s elite, Putin's authority remains intact. One insider warned that the most significant cost of the war may be the years of fighting Russia has already endured, with one insider stating that nearly five years of conflict has made it increasingly clear that "the tsar is naked."