Putin needs more soldiers
Wave of mobilization expected after the “pseudo elections”.
09/07/2023, 12:10 p.m
Every day Russia loses hundreds of soldiers in the war against Ukraine. According to reports, the country is already responding with recruitment. After the regional elections this weekend, a second, presumably unofficial, wave of mobilization could hit the Russians.
Amid persistent rumors of an imminent generalized wave of mobilization, the Russian authorities appear to be making efforts to recruit new soldiers as quietly as possible. That reports that Institute for the Study of War. The Russian Defense Ministry submitted a draft amendment to the rules on military registration to the Duma on Wednesday. This would allow Russian correctional facilities, correctional centers and military registration and recruitment offices to register prisoners for military service.
The Ukrainian head of the Luhansk region, Artem Lysohor, also reported on Telegramthat the banks of the self-proclaimed “People’s Republic” are handing over their customers’ personal data to the Russian authorities in preparation for a new wave of mobilization. “It should be announced after the end of the pseudo-elections,” Lysohor told Telegram. Regional elections will be held across Russia on September 10th. There are also votes in the annexed Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Cherson. However, the elections there are not recognized internationally – just as little as was the case with the sham referendums on the illegal incorporation of the four territories last year.
The independent Russian Telegram channel also suspects that the pressure on Russians could increase after the votes this weekend “Moshem Objasnit”. He quoted a source close to the presidential administration as saying that the Russian government intends to launch a second wave of mobilization after the regional elections. The report goes on to say that preparations for further mobilizations are being intensified in Yakutia and Buryations, in the Irkutsk region and in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast. “Accordingly, the military commissions are in the process of updating the data and lists of people to be summoned first have been drawn up. Mobilization can begin immediately after the elections,” it said.
Recruitment offices send letters
The Russian Telegram channel “Mobilization News” also reports that residents of St. Petersburg have received letters from military registration and recruitment offices. These state that the Russian government can extend conscription. “Will it be increased again to two years? Or straight to 25?” Says “Mobilization News” sarcastically.
However, according to the ISW, Deputy Chairman of the Defense Committee of the Russian State Duma Yuri Shvytkin emphasized that the Duma is not considering extending conscription for the current year. Overall, the ISW considers it unlikely that the Russian authorities will officially announce a second wave of mobilization. However, they were “possibly preparing to step up clandestine mobilization efforts after the regional elections,” the conclusion said.