Putin May Mobilise 5 Lakh Troops as Russia Weighs His “Last Option”: Report

Russian President Vladimir Putin could order the mobilisation of around 500,000 new fighters within weeks.

As Moscow prepares to intensify its war effort in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned. Citing Ukrainian intelligence, Zelensky said Putin could move ahead with the mobilisation after Russia’s parliamentary elections, scheduled for September 21.

“Putin is not ready to stop this war,” Zelensky said in a post on X last month, referring to intelligence assessments shared after an interview with Sky News. He claimed Russia was preparing for a fresh mobilisation following the elections.

According to Zelensky, the Kremlin is unlikely to announce the move openly because Putin is concerned about public reaction inside Russia. He also warned that Russia would struggle to train and deploy such a large number of recruits quickly, potentially sending poorly trained personnel to the battlefield and increasing casualties.

Turkish Minister Warns Of Putin’s “Last Option”

The warning comes as Ukraine continues to carry out long-range strikes inside Russian territory. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has cautioned that continued escalation could push Putin towards what he described as his “last option” — the use of nuclear weapons.

Speaking on Anadolu’s Editor’s Desk programme, Fidan said a war of attrition extending into Russia’s rear could create a situation where Moscow feels its national survival is at stake.

Fidan described the prospect as “dangerous” and said Turkey had discussed the issue with its Western partners. He added that during a visit to Russia, he sensed that the possibility of such a move was being discussed amid claims of growing public pressure.

Russia, Ukraine Intensify Long-Range Strikes

The United Nations has said Russia and Ukraine have significantly increased long-range attacks this year, contributing to a rise in civilian casualties.

A Ukrainian drone strike on Tatarstan in central Russia killed at least 13 people on Monday, according to reports, making it one of the deadliest attacks attributed to Kyiv since the war began.

Russia also carried out deadly attacks on Ukraine the same day. Ukrainian officials said a Russian artillery strike near the front line killed five people in a village in the northeastern Kharkiv region.

Russia’s Defence Ministry said its forces shot down 456 Ukrainian drones overnight, although Moscow does not provide details on how many drones may have reached their intended targets.

Ukraine’s Air Force, meanwhile, said Russia launched 126 drones during its overnight attack.