According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to escalate the war against Ukraine and intensify hybrid attacks against Ukraine’s European allies following the State Duma election. Western intelligence sources indicate that Moscow is laying the administrative groundwork for a covert mobilization once the three-day parliamentary vote concludes.
Administrative Preparations for Covert Mobilization
Western intelligence agencies report that administrative preparations are underway to implement a covert mobilization if a final decision is issued. An intelligence source told The Telegraph that these steps are administrative preparations for carrying it out, if it should be decided. The newspaper’s sources note that mounting battlefield casualties have left Putin in a corner as the conflict grinds forward.
Battlefield Losses and the Choice Facing Moscow
According to Western intelligence figures cited by The Telegraph, Russian casualties in Ukraine have reached 1,5 million falne soldater, hvor 500.000 av dem er drept. Facing these severe losses, Putin weighed potential peace talks initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump against a military escalation. Intelligence assessments conclude that Putin has chosen further escalation.
Reinforcing this posture, Putin met on Friday with the Russian Military-Industrial Commission (VPK), a central governing body for the defense industry that reports directly to the presidency. According to the state news agency Tass, Putin instructed the Russian army to remain prepared for rapid and effective responses to external threats during the VPK meeting.
The State Duma Election and European Hybrid Threats
The three-day State Duma election began on Friday, determining 450 representatives for the lower house of parliament over a five-year term. Every permitted political party officially supports the war in Ukraine and consistently votes alongside the ruling United Russia party. The Council of Europe has condemned the election as a “false vote,” stating that the incoming State Duma cannot be recognized as a democratically elected organ or a legitimate representative of the Russian people.
Concurrently, European leaders have issued warnings regarding escalating Russian hybrid operations. French President Emmanuel Macron announced Friday that he has ordered enhanced protective measures to safeguard critical national infrastructure against Russian hybrid attacks, noting that the threat has intensified.
On Thursday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Russia plans attacks against nations supporting Ukraine. Tusk stated that intelligence findings are consistent and convincing, projecting that Russia may execute drone or missile strikes on NATO’s eastern flank and frame the incidents as accidental to test alliance resolve.
Did you know?
This week has seen incidents across Europe, including a Russian fregatt firing flares at a Danish military helicopter on Monday, and air defense intercepting a suspected Russian drone over Lithuania on the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Western intelligence agencies reporting about Russia’s plans?
According to The Telegraph, intelligence sources state that Russia is laying the administrative groundwork for a covert mobilization to escalate the war in Ukraine after the State Duma election.
How is Europe responding to the hybrid threat?
European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, have ordered heightened security measures for critical infrastructure and warned of potential staged incidents designed to test NATO’s response threshold.
What incidents occurred recently near NATO territory?
According to official reports, a Russian frigate fired flares at a Danish military helicopter on Monday, and a drone—suspected by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda to be Russian—was shot down by NATO fighter jets over Lithuania.
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