A full-scale war between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing for nearly five years. Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to intensify this conflict further. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russia could mobilize an additional 500,000 troops in the coming weeks.
Citing Ukrainian intelligence, Zelenskyy stated that Putin plans to initiate this mobilization after the Russian parliamentary elections conclude in late September.
Following an interview with Sky News last month, Zelenskyy wrote on the social media platform X that Putin is not ready to end the war. “Our intelligence indicates he is preparing for a new troop mobilization. He intends to do this after the Duma elections (Russian parliamentary elections) conclude on September 21.”
Zelenskyy claims the Russian President will not publicly announce a new mobilization because he “fears his own society.” He also remarked that it would be impossible for Russia to rapidly train such a vast number of people.
Consequently, the Ukrainian President warned that “insufficiently trained personnel” might be sent to the battlefield, which, in his words, would result in massive loss of life.
Putin May Resort to ‘Last Resort’ Option
Meanwhile, as Ukraine continues to strike deep within Russian territory, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned that the war could reach a stage where Putin decides to use his “last resort”—nuclear weapons.
Speaking on Anadolu’s “Editor’s Desk” program and addressing Russia’s nuclear capabilities, Fidan said, “When the war of attrition at the front lines spills over into the rear territories, the question is no longer whether you will lose the war, but whether you will survive as a nation. That is when you use the last resort available to you.” Fidan described the situation as “dangerous” and noted that the matter has been discussed with Western partners.
He added that during his visit to Russia, he sensed that this scenario could potentially unfold. This is because there was talk that the public was demanding such measures. We have discussed the matter with our Western partners, and they are aware of it. He added that the situation is dangerous; often, the very things people believe will never happen are the ones that ultimately occur.
Russia and Ukraine Escalate Long-Range Strikes
According to United Nations data, both Russia and Ukraine have significantly increased long-range strikes this year, resulting in a rise in civilian casualties. On Monday, a Ukrainian drone strike in the Tatarstan region of central Russia killed at least 13 people. This marks one of the deadliest attacks launched by Ukraine since the conflict began nearly five years ago.
Meanwhile, Russia also carried out a deadly attack in Ukraine on Monday. Local Ukrainian officials reported that five people were killed by Russian shelling in a village in the northeastern Kharkiv region, near the front lines.
The Russian Ministry of Defence stated that it had shot down 456 drones launched from Ukraine overnight. However, the ministry did not provide details on how many of the drones successfully hit their targets.
On the other hand, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia used 126 drones in its overnight attacks.
