Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sounded the alarm, stating that Russia is gearing up to deploy an additional 300,000 troops to the Ukrainian front lines by the start of June.
Zelensky made this revelation during a press conference held in Kyiv, raising concerns over the escalating tensions in the region.
“We don’t need half a million. The corresponding number that was not at the front – they will be at the front. As for the exact number, I am not ready to say how many will be mobilized,” Zelensky said when asked about Ukrainian troops.
“I can say that Russia is preparing to mobilize an additional 300,000 troops on June 1.”
The Ukrainian leader also said he “clearly” understands why Russia is looking to draft more soldiers, and urged that the upcoming months of May and June “should be a time of activity for the sake of Ukraine, for the sake of achieving our goals in this war.
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“We clearly understand what Russia is preparing for, what they want, and what they will be drafting soldiers into their army for,” Zelensky said. “And we, all of us, our partners, must have a strong response to Russian operations – any Russian operations. We must win this war.”
This announcement follows Vladimir Putin’s recent activation of a routine spring conscription campaign, which saw 150,000 citizens called up for military service.
Ukraine’s military intelligence further indicated that Russia intends to intensify its mobilization efforts, particularly after Putin secured a landslide victory in the country’s presidential election, garnering over 87 percent of the vote.
The Kremlin’s move to bolster its military presence has triggered apprehension among Russian citizens, who have previously protested against mass conscription efforts.
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Notably, a mobilization initiative in the fall of 2022 sparked widespread demonstrations, with many potential draftees fleeing the country to evade compulsory service. Western intelligence had earlier suggested that Putin aimed to sidestep significant conscription efforts to avert political repercussions ahead of the election.
While Russia maintains momentum in the prolonged conflict against Ukraine, the war has exacted a heavy toll on both sides. US intelligence estimates indicate Russia has suffered significant casualties, with over 315,000 soldiers lost since the conflict began in February 2022.
The situation along the front lines remains precarious, described by some as a “meat grinder” due to ongoing pockets of intense fighting.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has endured staggering losses throughout the conflict. President Zelensky disclosed in February that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had perished since the war’s outbreak. However, US officials previously revealed even higher casualty figures, with approximately 70,000 troops killed and over 120,000 wounded.
