Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia may seek to mobilize another 300,000 troops later this year as Moscow continues its campaign to capture remaining Ukrainian-held territory in the Donbas.
According to Zelensky, the potential recruitment could come after Russia’s parliamentary elections in September. He described the expected effort as a broader mobilization that could focus heavily on Russia’s more remote regions rather than its major cities.
The warning comes as Russian forces continue pushing toward strategic areas of eastern Ukraine. Fighting has intensified around Kostiantynivka and other parts of the Donbas, a region Moscow has sought to bring fully under its control.
Zelensky said Ukraine believes Russia could eventually seek to build its forces toward a total recruitment target of around 500,000 by 2027. He argued that Moscow’s need for additional manpower reflects the heavy losses sustained during the ongoing offensive.
The reported mobilization has not been independently confirmed as a finalized Russian decision, making the 300,000 figure a warning from the Ukrainian side rather than an established Kremlin announcement.
The possibility of a new large-scale recruitment drive could further raise tensions and place additional pressure on Ukraine, which is already facing significant demands for troops, ammunition and air-defense systems.
At the same time, Ukraine has reported battlefield gains in parts of the southeast this year, while Russian forces continue attempting to advance in the eastern Donbas region.
If Russia does move forward with a major mobilization, the development could have significant consequences for the trajectory of the war, potentially providing Moscow with additional manpower for offensive operations while increasing the pressure on Ukraine’s defenses.
For now, Kyiv is warning that Russia may be preparing for a new phase of recruitment as the fighting enters another critical period.
