Russia Plans Mobilization of Up to Half Million Troops After September Elections, Zelensky Says

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to mobilize between 300,000 and 500,000 reservists after the parliamentary elections scheduled for late September. Zelensky said, “Putin is not ready to end the war” and warned the new draft could begin in early October. He added that much of the Russian public opposes further mobilization and that the conscripts are likely to be poorly trained, risking high casualties for the Russian armed forces.

Analysts note that Russia has already enacted legal measures allowing the call‑up of reserves without a formal mobilization decree, and that a partial mobilization in autumn 2022 saw about 300,000 men drafted. Zelensky appealed to Ukraine’s allies to impose stricter sanctions on Moscow to exacerbate logistical and production challenges.

No official Russian confirmation of the planned mobilization has been made, but the statements underscore the potential for a significant escalation in the Ukraine conflict.