Zelenskyy: Ukraine has taken note of Russia's plans to recruit 100,000 troops
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said following a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff on 17 May that Ukraine has taken note of reports regarding Russia's plans to mobilise 100,000 people and is preparing to reinforce its forces on the Chernihiv-Kyiv front.
Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter)
Quote: "We also took note of information about Russia's preparations for new mobilisation steps – plus 100,000 people.
We believe that, as of today, Russia lacks such potential for covert mobilisation, so we should expect Russian political decisions of another format, including those like the recent one regarding the Transnistrian region of Moldova."
Details: Zelenskyy reported that the meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff analysed data from Ukrainian intelligence regarding Russia's planning of offensive operations on the Chernihiv-Kyiv front.
He stated that Ukrainian forces in the area will be reinforced.
The Ukrainian leader has instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to prepare additional diplomatic pressure measures targeting Belarus, which Russia could use as a platform to expand the war.
He also added that Ukraine is preparing to expand the geography of "long-range sanctions" on Russian territory.
Zelenskyy said Russia has five scenarios for expanding the war via northern Ukraine.
Background:
- In April, Zelenskyy said Ukraine's defence forces wipe out the same number of troops each month as Russia mobilises, but Russian personnel numbers are currently growing as Moscow draws down its strategic reserves.
- Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported that Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces have been killing or wounding more Russian troops than Russia has mobilised for four months running. Meanwhile, Russia has increased its drone forces to 101,000 personnel and plans to expand them to 165,500 by the end of the year.
- Moldovan President Maia Sandu said a decree by Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin simplifying the granting of Russian citizenship to residents of the unrecognised region of Transnistria could be used to mobilise people from the Moldovan region for the war against Ukraine.
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