Zelensky: Putin is preparing a new large-scale mobilization in the fall, up to 500 thousand people may be called up

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia is preparing for a new wave of large-scale mobilization this fall. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the Kremlin plans to call up from 300 to 500 thousand people.

The head of state said this in an interview with Sky News.

According to Zelensky, the Russian president has no intention of stopping the war and plans to strengthen the army after the elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation, which are due to be held on September 21.

“Putin is not ready to stop this war. There is intelligence that he is preparing for mobilization. He wants to do this after the Duma elections on September 21. He wants to strengthen mobilization. Not openly, because he is afraid of his society, but he will do it in early October, if we do not create problems for him with logistics, weapons, gasoline, diesel and if our partners do not impose total sanctions for his aggression,” the president said.

According to Ukrainian intelligence estimates, Russia plans to mobilize from 300 to 500 thousand people.

At the same time, Zelensky noted that, despite the ability to quickly recruit such a number of people, the Kremlin will face problems in training the mobilized.

“It is not so difficult for it to mobilize such a number of people. It will have internal questions about this, since its society is against mobilization. A significant percentage of the population is also against the war, but they still support Putin. He will not be able to quickly train these people. This means that poorly trained military personnel will be sent to the battlefield, and this, in turn, will lead to large losses,” the head of state emphasized.