Russia’s Defense Ministry reportedly planning to covertly mobilize 300K for war in Ukraine, launch siege on Kharkiv

Russia’s Defense Ministry intends to send another 300,000 troops to the war in Ukraine amid plans to launch a siege on Kharkiv, reports the independent outlet Verstka, citing four sources in Putin’s administration and regional governments, as well as a high-ranking Defense Ministry employee.

The Russian authorities will reportedly primarily focus on mobilizing reservists to make these numbers but will also try to pressure conscripts whose military service is ending into signing contracts.

However, Verstka notes that recruitment likely won’t be limited to these measures. In Moscow, defense companies and state-funded organizations have started issuing mobilization exemption certificates to employees, and military enlistment offices have called back lawyers and psychologists who were involved in the fall 2022 mobilization. Officially, these actions are being framed as preparations for Russia’s spring conscription, but Verstka’s sources referred to the measures as “mobilization 2.0.”

Independent observers have repeatedly speculated that a new wave of mobilization could begin in Russia after Vladimir Putin’s reelection. Russia’s Defense Ministry has assured the public that there are currently no such plans.