Propaganda? Such messages have been circulating in Russia’s Telegram and opposition channels for weeks. Now the Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Resnikov (56) directly addresses the suspicions. Resnikov addresses the Russian people at the turn of the year. In early January, he says, the Russian government will close the border to men, declare martial law and call for a new wave of mobilization. This while people are now decorating the festive tables and making plans for the future.
There is not much time left for the affected men. “Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you,” says the defense minister. ‘I’m not asking you to believe me. Please answer this question honestly: If you can go to war and die or be crippled for the rest of your life, what exactly are you fighting for? For yourself,” says Reznikov, pointing his finger at the camera.
The Russian government has lied to its people that nothing in the war is going according to plan. “For the first time in a hundred years, a flagship of the Russian fleet has been destroyed. Long-range planes explode at the airfields deep in Russia.” Plus the “losses of the Russian army with more than 100,000 deaths”.
“You have about a week left”
The first wave of mobilization took place to compensate for the losses. The new mobilization will mainly affect the cities. The countryside has already been largely recruited. “I’m sure,” Resnikov said, “you have about a week left. In early January, the Russian authorities will close the borders to men, then declare martial law and launch another wave of mobilization.”
In the meantime, according to the Russian media, the authorities have also modernized the national registration and reporting system for their citizens. When the first partial mobilization of some 320,000 reservists was called up in September, chaos quickly reigned and the sick, disabled and unfit were called up.
According to Kyrylo Budanov (36), head of the intelligence service of the Ministry of Defense in Kiev, Russia will start the new wave of mobilization immediately after the New Year: on January 5 or 9. The Russian army “does not have enough personnel” to form new units and compensate for “significant losses” in existing units, Budanov told the BBC. Budanov admits that neither Russian nor Ukrainian forces currently have the resources to advance further. The situation at the front was “stalled”. (kes)