Putin Appears To Reject Reports Of Russian Mobilisation

Russian President Vladimir Putin has appeared to nix the prospect of a widespread mobilisation of Russian troops following Ukrainian military reports yesterday.

• The Ukrainian General Staff said yesterday: "A mass forced mobilisation of the population is expected soon in the Russian Federation and temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine due to the occupiers' catastrophic losses."
• According to Reuters, the General Staff said the mobilisation campaign could target between 400,000 and 700,000 recruits but declined to provide evidence to support the assertion.
• Reuters: "Russian officials have said there are no current plans for a new wave of mobilisation and that Moscow is focused on recruiting professional soldiers."
• Putin said, in response to a question on the prospect of a new mobilisation, "1,000 - 1,500 Russians were signing voluntary contracts to join the military every day."
• A new mobilisation would be politically fraught for the Kremlin considering the number of military-age men who fled the country last year when Putin announced a partial mobilisation.
• The strategic imperative of a mobilisation is also unclear with battlefield conditions close to stalemate and autumn rains set to undermine offensive maneuvers in the coming weeks.