Zelenskyy warns of Russia's large-scale mobilization plans

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of planning a significant mobilization of troops for the autumn, citing intelligence reports and Russian documents.

In a video address, Zelenskyy claimed that Russia is preparing for the mass recruitment of soldiers immediately after the parliamentary elections in September. He alleged that hundreds of thousands of Russians would be conscripted by the end of the year, with a similar number potentially following next year. Zelenskyy suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin aims to create the impression of widespread public support for the war in Ukraine.

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The mass recruitment of soldiers will be prepared for the autumn, immediately after the parliamentary elections in September.

Russia's response, articulated by former Kremlin chief Dmitry Medvedev, vehemently denied these allegations. Medvedev dismissed the claims as "lies, provocations, and rumors" deliberately spread by the enemy to destabilize Russia ahead of the parliamentary elections, scheduled for September 18-20.

Zelenskyy's claims could not be independently verified. Kyiv has previously accused Moscow of preparing for further mobilization, which did not materialize. However, the possibility of a new wave of mobilization this autumn is a subject of discussion among observers. A large-scale mobilization in the fall of 2022 resulted in the conscription of approximately 300,000 men.

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It is lies, provocations, and rumors that the enemy is deliberately spreading to destabilize the situation in Russia before the parliamentary elections.