President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is planning to launch a new mobilization campaign after Russia's State Duma elections, aiming to conscript between 300,000 and 500,000 people.
The Ukrainian president made the remarks in an interview with Sky News.
"Putin is not ready to end this war. Intelligence indicates that he is preparing for mobilization. He wants to do it after the State Duma elections on September 21. He intends to expand mobilization—not openly, because he fears his own society—but he will do it in early October unless we create problems for his logistics, weapons, gasoline, and diesel supplies, and unless our partners impose comprehensive sanctions for his aggression," Zelensky said.
According to the president, the Kremlin leader hopes to mobilize between 300,000 and 500,000 Russians.
"This would be a major challenge because he expects to mobilize between 300,000 and 500,000 people. For him, mobilizing that many people is not particularly difficult. He will face domestic issues because, according to polling I have seen, Russian society opposes mobilization," Zelensky said.
The president added that a significant share of the Russian population also opposes the war, yet continues to support Putin.
"He will not be able to train these people quickly. That means he will send poorly trained troops to the battlefield, which, in turn, will result in heavy casualties," Zelensky said.
