Putin Could Mobilise 5 Lakh Fighters as Russia Eyes “Last Option”: Report

Russian President Vladimir Putin could mobilise around 500,000 additional fighters within weeks as Moscow prepares to intensify its war in Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned.

Citing Ukrainian intelligence, Zelensky claimed Putin could announce the mobilisation after Russia’s parliamentary elections on September 21. He said the Russian leader is not prepared to end the war and is preparing to expand his military manpower.

Zelensky also alleged that Moscow would avoid announcing the mobilisation openly because Putin fears a backlash from Russian society. He warned that Russia would struggle to train such a large number of recruits quickly, potentially sending poorly trained troops to the battlefield and resulting in heavier casualties.

Turkish Foreign Minister Raises Nuclear Concerns

The warning comes amid an escalation in long-range attacks by both sides. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has cautioned that continued Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russian territory could push Putin towards what he called his “last option” — nuclear weapons.

Speaking to Anadolu’s Editor’s Desk programme, Fidan said a prolonged war of attrition that increasingly affects Russia’s rear could create a situation where Moscow begins questioning its ability to survive as a nation.

Fidan described the situation as “dangerous” and said Turkey had discussed the possibility with Western partners. He also said concerns over Russia’s nuclear capabilities had emerged during his recent visit to Moscow.

Russia And Ukraine Step Up Drone And Missile Attacks

The United Nations has reported a significant increase in long-range attacks by both Russia and Ukraine this year, contributing to a rise in civilian casualties. A Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Tatarstan region killed at least 13 people on Monday, reportedly marking one of the deadliest Ukrainian strikes inside Russia since the war began.

Ukraine also came under heavy Russian attack the same day. Local officials said Russian artillery fire killed five people in a village in the northeastern Kharkiv region. Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its forces intercepted 456 Ukrainian drones overnight, without specifying how many may have reached their targets.

Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 126 drones in its overnight assault, further highlighting the growing scale of long-range attacks in the conflict.