Macron cites 'several signs' Russia is preparing to mobilize 300,000 people

French President Emmanuel Macron stated on September 24 that Russia appears to be preparing for a new round of mobilization following the recent elections. He cited several signs, including intelligence reports from European and American sources as well as Ukraine, suggesting Russia is organizing for this mobilization. Ukraine's Presidential Office had previously warned in August that Russia might mobilize 600,000 people between 2026 and 2027, as public support for the ongoing war dwindled and fewer people were willing to enlist voluntarily.

In an intelligence briefing on August 27, the French Presidential Office confirmed Russia's plans to mobilize 300,000 people in 2026 and another 300,000 in 2027. Macron claimed the Kremlin had been waiting for the elections to launch this new mobilization. While it remained uncertain whether Russia would announce the mobilization publicly or carry it out covertly, Macron described the reports as plausible and pointed to the need for Russia to make even greater sacrifices to seize the entire Donbas region.

Macron emphasized that Russia had only relied on forced mobilization once before, in 2022, when Moscow announced a call-up as Ukrainian counteroffensives intensified pressure on Russian defensive positions. This earlier mobilization led to hundreds of thousands of Russians fleeing the country, with long lines forming at border checkpoints, particularly near Georgia.

Since then, President Putin has been cautious about another large-scale mobilization, which could tarnish his image as a reliable source of stability and strength for Russians who had largely avoided engagement in politics and the war. The Kremlin, instead, resorted to substantial enlistment bonuses to attract contract soldiers, leaving regional authorities responsible for meeting recruitment goals.

President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine stated that the additional 300,000 troops could bolster Russia's ongoing offensive around the fortified cities of Donetsk Oblast or open new fronts, including along Ukraine's northern border.