Putin Plans Massive Mobilization for Russia’s Military

Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly preparing to mobilize between 300,000 and 500,000 soldiers to bolster Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shared this information in an interview with Sky News.

This new wave of mobilization is seen as a response to the ongoing high casualty rates and diminishing public support for the war in Eastern Europe. The decision comes as the Russian public begins to feel the prolonged impact of the conflict.

In the fall of 2022, when Putin called up 300,000 reservists, the move sparked protests across Russia, and tens of thousands of people fled the country to avoid military service. A poll by the Russian independent pollster, the Levada Center, indicated that only one in four people supported the continuation of the war, as of May.

Zelensky expressed confidence in Putin’s ability to mobilize up to half a million troops, though it risks igniting public unrest. Ukrainian officials have predicted this move, citing Moscow’s struggles to meet recruitment targets. Recent estimates suggest Russia sustains over 1,000 casualties daily.

Ukraine’s foreign intelligence reported that Russia missed its army recruitment goals by around 30,000 in the first quarter of 2026, leading Russian authorities to offer higher sign-on bonuses to attract recruits.

The anticipated mobilization follows recent Russian elections for the Duma, marking the first parliamentary elections since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

This situation is evolving, with further updates expected.