Zelensky: Russia May Mobilize 300,000 People This Fall

Russia may mobilize 300,000 people after the State Duma elections.

President Zelensky made the statement during a conversation with journalists, according to UNIAN.

“He will decide where to deploy the 300,000 newly mobilized troops based on the situation in the east of our country. If he achieves the success he is expecting there, he could then send some of these forces to another area,” Zelensky said.

The president added that the fresh troops could be used to establish a ‘buffer zone’ and potentially advance toward the Chernihiv and Kyiv regions, as the Kremlin has reportedly considered launching an offensive from the Bryansk region.

So far, Ukraine has not detected any Russian troop buildup in the area.

Zelensky also said that Russia’s main objective has not changed. Putin has ordered the Russian military to seize the entire Donetsk and Luhansk regions by the end of this year.

However, Zelensky said this goal is unrealistic. He also noted that Russian forces have suffered heavy losses in fighting in the Donetsk region.

“About 70–80% of Russia’s total losses are occurring in this area, around Kostiantynivka. They are suffering their heaviest losses there, and the most intense fighting is taking place in that area. They are putting the greatest pressure there. Drapatyi knows this and has ordered Ukrainian forces to strengthen the Sloviansk and Kramatorsk fronts. All 300,000 of these newly mobilized Russian troops will be sent there and lost. We will destroy them. Putin will lose all of them because most of these troops will be sent to this area,” Zelensky added.

Zelensky had already warned in early August that Russia could announce a new mobilization after the elections.

In early June, reports emerged that Russia could launch another large-scale mobilization campaign in the fall. The prolonged war and the lack of significant gains by Russian forces in Ukraine were cited as possible reasons.

Meanwhile, Russian State Duma deputy Andrey Gurulyov said that another mobilization would be unlikely to change the situation on the battlefield. He argued that Ukraine’s technological advantage in drone warfare would prevent Russian forces from gaining the upper hand.

Russia last announced a so-called ‘partial mobilization’ on September 21, 2022.