300,000 Russians: Mass mobilization is being prepared

In an interview with French television networks, he said that the preparations began after the recent elections in Russia.

“There are indeed several reports shared by European and American intelligence services, as well as by our Ukrainian friends,” Macron said in response to a question about the possibility of a new wave of Russian mobilization.

Warnings from Ukraine

Macron’s remarks came after a warning issued in August by the Office of the President of Ukraine, which said that Russia may be preparing to mobilize 600,000 people during 2026 and 2027. The office cited growing public dissatisfaction with the war and a decline in the number of volunteers willing to join the military as reasons for the potential mobilization.

In a statement summarizing an intelligence briefing held on August 27, the office said that Russia plans to mobilize 300,000 people in 2026, followed by another 300,000 in 2027.

French President’s assessment

Macron believes the Kremlin waited for the elections to conclude before launching a new wave of mobilization.

“The elections have taken place. It is now clear that Russia will do it. The question is whether it will announce it publicly or carry it out without an official announcement,” he said.

He described reports of preparations to mobilize an additional 300,000 troops as “convincing” and said there were “several signs that Russia is preparing for it”.

“Indeed, a likely scenario that is being widely discussed today involves a figure of 300,000 people,” Macron added. “The signal Russia is sending today is that it is prepared to accept even greater losses in order to seize the entire Donbas,” he said.

Previous recruitment practices

Since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has announced compulsory mobilization only once. This occurred in the autumn of 2022, when a series of successful Ukrainian counteroffensives put enormous pressure on Russian defensive positions. The announcement prompted hundreds of thousands of Russians to leave the country, resulting in long queues at border crossings, particularly those leading to Georgia.

Since then, President Vladimir Putin has sought to avoid another mass mobilization, which could undermine his carefully cultivated image as a guarantor of stability. Instead, the Kremlin has relied on substantial financial bonuses to attract contract soldiers, while regional authorities have been tasked with meeting demanding recruitment quotas.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, an additional 300,000 troops would supplement Russia’s current recruitment efforts. They could be deployed to reinforce the main offensive around fortified cities in the Donetsk region or to open new fronts elsewhere, including along Ukraine’s northern border.