Russia is launching a covert military mobilization ahead of an imminent counter-offensive announced by Ukraine

He Kremlin has decided in the underground to mobilize all its resources in order to recruit a sufficient number of fighters which allow it to face an imminent Ukrainian counter-offensive without causing another mass exodus of able-bodied men.

The goal is to recruit 415,000 soldiers, of which a quarter would be sent directly to the front lines, and the rest would go to the reserve, according to data from the US intelligence services.

All indications point to the fact that the Russian military is now betting on securing control over territories already occupied in Ukraine, rather than increasing its territorial gains, with the exception of a few sectors in the Donbass. Therefore, according to The Washington PostPutin would give the green light for this covert mobilization, other domestic and foreign media confirmed.

According to these leaks, The Russian army urgently needs 50,000 soldiers on the Ukrainian front and another 40,000 in reserve. It should be added that the head of the Kremlin approved the proposal to increase the number of members of the Armed Forces to 1.5 million by 2026, of which around 700,000 must be professional soldiers.

In addition, as reported by Olga Románova, head of the non-governmental organization Rus Sidiaschaya (Russia Behind Bars), the Ministry of Defense also began mass mobilization in prisons. According to his calculations, Moscow recruited 10,000 prisoners in April alone, commanded by private military companies, including Wagner’s group, which recruited 50,000 prisoners last year.

“Now there is an absolutely desperate mobilization. We’ve never seen anything like it. Not even during Wagner’s time,” he said.

Portal jellyfish reports that the presidential administration is concerned about the public’s reaction to the new law promulgated by Putin, which restricts the rights of Russians of military age by introducing electronic notices, which theoretically prevent them from leaving the country.

The Kremlin already is preparing the presidential elections for March 2024where he wants to achieve a historic victory for Putin – constitutional reform allows him to stay in power until 2036 – showing the West that his power is all-encompassing.

As the prosecutor’s office reported this week, the courts agreed with 15,000 Russians who were mistakenly mobilized for various reasons, whether they were parents of large families, workers in the strategic or health sectors.

In February 2022, Russia deployed around 150,000 troops in Ukraine, to which should be added the 300,000 reservists mobilized by Putin last September and the 50,000 that make up Wagner’s units.

agitation and propaganda

In recent weeks, small stands with volunteers have appeared outside Moscow metro stations handing out brochures to those interested in signing professional contracts with the armed forces.

On the front of the brochure are the economic conditions, and on the back are the steps to follow in order to apply to the new recruitment center established by the capital’s City Council at the beginning of the month.

“The front needs soldiers who are motivated and ready to fight. The more of them are at the front, the better the mood in the ranks of the Russian army,” he says.

Soldiers who end up on the battlefield can receive a minimum of 210,000 rubles per month (about $2,500), the only condition being that they are over 18 years old.

In addition, the defense launched an aggressive agitation and propaganda advertising campaign on television appealing to the “manliness” of the Russians.

“You are male. Act like it,” the video says after introducing security guards, taxi drivers and gym instructors who imagine they are wearing the uniform.

alternative civil service

In addition, the press also denounced that the authorities and military commissioners were desperate to meet spring recruitment quotas for conscription, for which they had issued numerous notices to universities, despite the fact that many of the recipients had extended studies.

It is of little importance that some of these young people were also exempted for health reasons. If they do not present a medical certificate, they can be mobilized.

Human rights activists informed Efe that anyone who does not want to serve the country, whether conscripted or mobilized, can object and comply with what is known as alternative civil service without fear of prosecution.

“In September, many panicked went abroad. It is interesting that there is no criminal procedure for refusing mobilization. It is not mandatory to emigrate. The law is on your side,” they commented, alluding to the hundreds of thousands of Russians who have gone into exile since September 2022.