Russia's UN Envoy Leaves Door Open to Mass Draft After September Elections
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Independent · Aug 21
Russia's UN Envoy Leaves Door Open to Mass Draft After September Elections
2 articles · Updated · Kyiv Independent · Aug 21
Summary
Vasily Nebenzya said Russia is not planning mass mobilization "at the moment" but declined to rule it out after next month's parliamentary election, telling reporters at the United Nations, "Let's see what happens."
The remark followed Volodymyr Zelensky's Aug. 11 warning that Moscow could rapidly mobilize several hundred thousand Russians by year-end, citing what he said were internal Russian documents reviewed with intelligence chiefs.
Russia has denied mobilization plans before reversing course: in 2022, Kremlin officials publicly dismissed the idea days before announcing a partial draft of 300,000 reservists on Sept. 21.
Zelensky also said in July that Moscow is preparing to receive 30,000 additional North Korean troops, underscoring Kyiv's broader claim that Russia is seeking major new manpower for the war.