The Kremlin has abandoned plans for a further offensive into Ukraine this spring after failing to make much headway, and will focus on containing a new offensive by Kyiv forces that is expected to begin soon.
It is reported by Bloomberg, citing its own sources.
According to them, the Kremlin is aiming to recruit up to 400,000 contract soldiers this year to replenish the army. A large-scale recruitment campaign will allow the Kremlin to avoid another forced mobilization.
According to the agency, Putin signaled that he was confident that Russia could outlive Ukraine’s supporters in the US and Europe, betting that if the Russian Armed Forces could prevent a new breakthrough by Ukrainian troops in the coming months, support for Kiev would weaken.
The Russian authorities plan to contain the Ukrainian counteroffensive and for this they attract a large number of contract soldiers. This decision of the Kremlin is caused by fears of a negative perception of the second wave of mobilization.
Earlier, the media reported on the plans of the authorities to attract 400 thousand Russians to serve under the contract. However, Dara Massicot, a senior researcher at the American RAND Corporation, is sure that it will not be possible to collect such a number of people.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is planning a massive counteroffensive in the coming months. It will be attended by the military, trained in Europe and the United States, as well as supplied by combat vehicles by the Western allies.
Source: Racurs
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