Zelensky Warns of Russian Plan to Mobilise 300,000 More Troops
Ukraine's leader says Russia plans to draft 300,000 more troops after its September elections, while Kyiv faces a major funding gap.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he believes Russia is preparing to draft an additional 300,000 soldiers for its war effort, with the move expected to follow the country's parliamentary elections in mid-September.
Speaking to reporters, Zelensky described the plan as a "peripheral mobilisation" aimed at Russia's far-flung regions, suggesting the Kremlin would avoid calling up reservists from major cities. He added that Moscow could seek to expand its forces further by 2027, potentially reaching a total of 500,000 new troops.
The warning comes as Russian forces continue their grinding advance through the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, where Kyiv says the offensive is exacting a heavy toll on Moscow's military. Zelensky also noted that Ukrainian troops had made recent gains in the southeast, predicting that the amount of territory liberated by Kyiv in 2026 would match that still occupied by Russia.
Beyond the ground war, Zelensky highlighted an escalating air campaign against Ukrainian cities. He said Russia is ramping up its production of ballistic missiles, aiming for an annual output of up to 1,300. This is compounded by a shortage of air-defence interceptors; Ukraine expects to receive just 264 Patriot interceptors in 2026, a sharp drop from 364 in 2025 and 675 in 2023.
To bolster its defences, Kyiv has secured agreements with France for at least one SAMP/T system this year and with Germany for roughly 600 PAC-2 and PAC-3 interceptors through 2028. However, Zelensky said the air force has requested 360 interceptors to prepare for another difficult winter of strikes on the energy grid.
Ukraine's broader war effort is also constrained by finances. Zelensky revealed a $27 billion defence funding gap for the current year, driven by higher-than-expected spending in the first half. He noted that at least $8 billion is needed for a "normal start" to 2027, with an additional $20 billion required for military salaries, compensation for families of fallen soldiers, and other costs.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened retaliation for Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian economic infrastructure, vowing to target what he called Ukraine's "most sensitive economic sectors".