According to a recent report from the American think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), combat-ready forces in Russia began to run out as early as May 2022.
However, Putin did not heed “the advice of the Russian military to order forced conscription into the reserve because of the unpopularity of this move” and also because of the “growing distrust of the Ministry of Defense” responsible for the “amazing setbacks in the war.”
In an attempt to avoid a forced mobilization order, the Russian president relied on volunteers, whose recruitment he entrusted to “ultra-rationalist groups” and “troops.” However, this did not give the desired results.
Ukraine’s large-scale counter-offensive in the Kharkiv region between September 6 and 11 probably shocked Putin, making him realize that he needed to issue a forced conscription order, the report says.
After that, Putin announced a partial mobilization, during which 300,000 people were called up.
ISW experts note that “the number of reservists suitable for combat operations on the front line is limited,” so the draft campaign will have to be expanded, “annually recruiting an increasing proportion of young Russian men against their will into military service.”
As part of the Russian draft campaign, 260,000 new soldiers are recruited annually. However, demographics are not conducive to such an approach, experts say.
They explain that if the ways want to increase the size of the Russian army, then even those who cannot serve due to illness or are not legally fit for service will fall under the draft.
In addition, if a large number of able-bodied men are called up, the Russian economy, which the authorities are trying to transfer to a military footing, will suffer.
Putin may face a shortage of mobilized – ISW
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.