Zelensky Says Russia Eyes Wider Mobilization as 225,500 Losses Outpace 221,000 Recruits
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jul 26
Zelensky Says Russia Eyes Wider Mobilization as 225,500 Losses Outpace 221,000 Recruits
3 articles · Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jul 26
Summary
225,500 Russian battlefield losses this year have exceeded 221,000 recruits in 2026, Zelensky said, warning Putin is preparing conditions for a broader mobilization drive.
131,000 of those losses were killed and nearly 93,000 wounded, with Zelensky saying many injuries are severe because frontline medical care in Russia is "catastrophically poor."
70,500 new soldiers reportedly signed Russian contracts in the first quarter, about 30,000 short of the Defense Ministry's target and below roughly 90,000 in the same period last year.
30,000 additional North Korean troops are also being prepared to support Russia's war, Zelensky said, with reception arrangements underway since June in Russia's Voronezh region.
Ukrainian officials have warned through the summer that Moscow may launch a significant new mobilization wave in the fall as casualty rates intensify.