Zelenskyy stated that Russia is preparing to expand its mobilisation and is expecting troops from North Korea
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has stated that Ukrainian intelligence has received information about Russia’s plans for the autumn, which, he said, do not envisage an end to the war.
According to the head of state, Vladimir Putin is laying the groundwork for an expansion of mobilisation. Zelenskyy noted that in just under seven months this year, 221,000 people have been conscripted into the Russian Armed Forces, whilst the Russian army’s losses over the same period, he said, amounted to nearly 225,500 soldiers. Of these, 131,000 were killed and nearly 93,000 were wounded.
“Putin is simply preparing to send more Russians off to war. He disguises this with other words and signals, but he is preparing,” said Zelenskyy.
The President of Ukraine emphasised that it is important to step up pressure on Russia together with international partners so that, in his words, the prevailing sentiment is one of ending the war, rather than of a new mobilisation. He also stated that Ukrainian long-range operations are contributing to this.
Separately, Zelenskyy stated that Russia is expecting to receive a further 30,000 military personnel from North Korea. According to him, preparations for their deployment have been underway in the Voronezh region since June. Furthermore, the Ukrainian president claims that the DPRK is preparing to transfer new ballistic missile launchers to Russia.
According to Zelenskyy, such cooperation between Russia and North Korea poses a threat not only to Ukraine. He stated that Russia is helping the DPRK to gain combat experience and improve its weaponry through its use in war.
The US Institute for the Study of War previously reported that the Kremlin is creating a legal framework for a new conscription drive. Analysts have highlighted the Rosgvardia’s update to civil defence regulations to take account of periods of mobilisation and martial law, as well as on amendments passed by the State Duma which expand the group of individuals with criminal records who may enter into contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defence.
The report also notes that the Russian military has already begun preparing training grounds for new recruits. Sources suggest that October is a possible date for the new mobilisation and estimate its scale at 1.2 million people.
According to Reuters, sources close to the Kremlin have also reported that Vladimir Putin is preparing for a further escalation of the war. Meanwhile, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies estimates the Russian army’s total losses as of mid-2026 at approximately 1.4 million personnel, including around 450,000 killed. Some European officials have suggested that a decision on a new mobilisation could be taken after the State Duma elections if the situation regarding troop numbers does not change.
