Putin Prepares New Mobilization

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, the country’s intelligence service has compiled extensive reports on Russia’s plans for the autumn indicating that Putin is preparing conditions to expand troop mobilization, with 221,000 individuals joining the Russian army during the first half of 2026 alongside nearly 225,500 casualties reported over the same period.

Mobilization and Casualty Figures for 2026

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj stated in a lengthy post on X that intelligence reports reveal Moscow is preparing to send additional soldiers to the front lines. According to Zelenskyj’s figures, 221,000 people joined the Russian military in the first half of 2026. During that exact same period, Russian casualties reached nearly 225,500 personnel. Out of those total losses, 131,000 soldiers were killed and roughly 93,000 were wounded, based on the data released by the Ukrainian leader.

Zelenskyj emphasized that a significant share of the injuries are severe because frontline medical treatment within the Russian forces is critically poor. He argued that Putin is preparing simply to send more Russians into the war while camouflaging the effort through various signals and terminology. In response to these developments, Zelenskyj urged Ukraine’s allies to exert sufficient pressure on Moscow so that the desire for peace becomes dominant over a new mobilization wave.

Satellite Surveillance and Iranian Cooperation

Ukrainian intelligence has tracked close cooperation between Russia and Iran, recording active Russian satellite surveillance of Gulf states and American military bases in the region since early July. According to Zelenskyj, Russian satellites flew over four regional airbases on July 19 and July 20—specifically two bases in Bahrain, one in Jordan, and one in Kuwait—with the resulting imagery subsequently delivered to Iran. Neither Russian nor Iranian authorities have issued comments regarding these allegations. Zelenskyj stated that he intends to direct the intelligence service to share these collected data points with Ukraine’s international partners.

Foreign Troop Deployments and Global Recruitment

Beyond domestic mobilization, Zelenskyj asserted that Russia aims to secure 30,000 additional soldiers from North Korea, noting that preparations to receive them have been underway in the Voronezh region since June. He added that North Korea is also preparing to transfer multiple ballistic missile launchers to Russia. According to Zelenskyj, this arrangement helps North Korea learn modern warfare and gain real combat experience, which poses a direct security threat to Asian nations within range of those missiles.

This build-up follows earlier assessments regarding foreign deployments. South Korea’s intelligence service estimated earlier in the year that roughly 11,000 North Korean soldiers had been dispatched to Russia, with about 6,000 either killed or wounded, according to a May analysis by BBC based on satellite imagery and a new memorial in Pyongyang.

Foreign recruitment extends well beyond North Korea. A report by Truth Hounds and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), highlighted by the Atlantic Council in May, documented that at least 27,000 foreign nationals from over 130 countries had signed service contracts with the Russian army since the full-scale invasion began. Ukrainian military intelligence stated in late April that the Kremlin planned to recruit at least 18,500 foreign individuals into the Russian army in 2026, according to the Atlantic Council. Many of these recruits come from economically disadvantaged areas in the global south, drawn by false promises of civilian jobs, high salaries, and Russian citizenship before being deployed directly to the front lines. Legal and diplomatic repercussions are already visible: Peru’s attorney general launched a human trafficking investigation into deceptive job recruitment schemes targeting its citizens, while the United States Department of State accused Cuban authorities of actively assisting Russia in enlisting its nationals.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How many soldiers did Russia recruit in early 2026?
  According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj, 221,000 individuals joined the Russian army during the first half of 2026.
• What are the estimated Russian casualty figures for the same period?
  Zelenskyj reported that Russian casualties reached nearly 225,500 in the first half of 2026, which includes 131,000 deaths and approximately 93,000 injuries.
• Are foreign nationals being recruited into the Russian military?
  Yes. According to a report by Truth Hounds and FIDH cited by the Atlantic Council, at least 27,000 foreign citizens from over 130 countries have signed service contracts with the Russian army since the start of the full-scale invasion.
• Have Russian or Iranian authorities responded to the surveillance claims?
  No. Neither Russian nor Iranian officials have commented on allegations regarding satellite overflights of Gulf-region military bases.