Zelensky Warns Russia Plans Mass Fall Mobilization

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on August 11 that internal Russian documents reveal plans for a massive mobilization of several hundred thousand citizens this fall, with an equal number planned for next year. Zelensky stated that President Vladimir Putin intends to launch this drive immediately after the State Duma parliamentary elections scheduled for September 18-20.

Zelensky claimed the elections are designed to create a false impression of public support for the war. This follows an August 10 decision by the Supreme Court of Russia to bar Yabloko, the only liberal anti-war party, from participating in the vote. Simultaneously, Ukraine's Center for Countering Disinformation reported that Russia is preparing to falsify voting results within occupied Ukrainian territories.

Zelensky stated that Ukraine is preparing active countermeasures to complicate the implementation of these mobilization plans.