Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia could mobilise at least 300,000 additional troops later this year as Moscow attempts to seize the remaining Ukrainian-held areas of Donetsk, according to The Nation.
In remarks released on Sunday, Zelensky said Russian forces could end the year controlling roughly the same amount of Ukrainian territory as they held at the beginning of the year, despite suffering heavy losses. He claimed that Russia had lost 267,000 personnel since January, including about 155,000 killed. These figures could not be independently confirmed.
Zelensky said Kyiv expected the mobilisation after Russia’s parliamentary elections. He predicted that the new recruits would be sent mainly to the eastern front, where Moscow is seeking full control of Donetsk. Ukrainian forces still hold about 20 percent of the region, including the strategic cities of Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
The Ukrainian president also warned that Russia could open another front near the northern regions of Kharkiv and Sumy. He said military equipment had been observed near the border, although no major troop concentration had yet been identified in Russia’s Bryansk region.
Ukraine seeks more air defence
Zelensky said Ukraine’s shortage of air-defence missiles was becoming increasingly serious. Kyiv received 675 Patriot interceptors in 2023 but expects only 264 this year, even as Russian ballistic-missile attacks continue to kill civilians and damage vital infrastructure.
He urged the United States to provide up to 10 percent of its Patriot stockpiles, saying Ukraine was ready to pay for the missiles. He also said Europe faced shortages of Aster missiles, although licensing agreements could speed up production.
Zelensky claimed that Russian military industries could produce about 1,300 ballistic missiles annually. Ukraine has responded by expanding its long-range drone and cruise-missile programme and targeting military sites inside Russia.
Kyiv is also seeking access to Starlink satellite imagery of Russian territory. Zelensky said Elon Musk opposed the move because he feared it could lead to a wider escalation.
On peace talks, Zelensky said the opportunity to end the war could remain open until next summer. He added that US envoys were struggling to find an agreement that would not require Ukraine to surrender Donbas or accept other unacceptable conditions.
