Russia Enlists 335,000 Volunteers for Combat, No New Mobilization Plans
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu asserts that the Russian military has an ample number of troops for its Ukraine operation, citing significant volunteer support.
Shoigu reassured military commanders that there are no plans for additional mobilization, attributing this to the strong patriotic commitment of Russian citizens who are actively enlisting to defend their country.
In September alone, over 50,000 individuals signed up for military service, and since the beginning of the year, more than 335,000 people have voluntarily joined the Russian Armed Forces or other voluntary units.
The ongoing autumn draft aims to enlist 130,000 people for compulsory military service, with none of them being deployed in the Ukraine conflict zone.
Between September 21 and October 31, 2022, Moscow activated around 300,000 reservists. Despite speculations in Western and Ukrainian media, Russian officials and commanders have consistently denied planning another mobilization.
Shoigu also commented on the situation on the ground, stating that Russian troops have significantly weakened the enemy’s combat capabilities and inflicted substantial damage on Ukrainian forces.
Ukraine has been engaged in a counteroffensive along the front line since early June, with limited progress primarily involving the capture of a few small villages located at a distance from the main Russian defense positions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin reported last month that Ukraine had lost over 71,000 troops and more than 540 tanks since the start of the campaign, without achieving significant battlefield gains.
