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Russia is left with no option but to pursue further mobilization, even if it has to be done secretly to prevent public backlash, reported the German newspaper BILD.
Editor Jeanne Plaumann and military analyst Julian Röpcke highlight that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s plan to increase troop numbers in Ukraine is “clear.” Evidence of this includes offering men attractive salaries and signup bonuses, as well as pressuring conscripts to commit to service contracts.
Russia is reportedly planning a covert mobilization in response to significant losses in its conflict with Ukraine, according to BILD and German analysts. Estimates suggest that between 110,000 and 140,000 Russian soldiers have died since the war began in February 2022, leading Moscow to quietly increase its troop numbers.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Ivan Havrylyuk has indicated that Russian forces in Ukraine have grown from 400,000 at the beginning of the year to 600,000 now, with plans to reach 800,000 by the end of the year. However, some regions in Russia are running low on funds to recruit contract soldiers, raising concerns about a potential large-scale mobilization.
Analysts speculate that President Putin may use Ukraine’s actions in the Kursk region as a pretext for boosting conscription efforts, likely in a covert manner without any official public announcement.
