Reuters: Putin Is Set on Further Escalation in Response to Ukrainian Drone Attacks

Reuters: Putin is set on further escalation in response to Ukrainian drone attacks

Vladimir Putin is prepared to escalate the fighting despite Donald Trump’s calls to come to the peace talks table, Reuters writes, citing three sources close to the Kremlin.

According to one of the sources, the Russian president insists on the full seizure of Donbas despite the slowdown in the offensive and the army’s heavy losses, because it is “a matter of principle.” Another source believes the escalation could begin in the coming months.

Putin’s advisers are also recommending that the president freeze the war along the current front line. He has already been warned about difficulties with the economy and the budget. However, the president believes the army will soon be able to seize Donbas.

💜Earlier, Verstka reported that the Russian authorities are openly acknowledging failures at the front and problems with recruitment. Among the possible solutions they are considering are both the rotation of reservists and a new wave of mobilization.

“There are constant complaints from beyond the ribbon about an acute shortage of people, so they’ll have to hurry to cover their needs,” a Verstka source said.

What people in the presidential administration and the security bloc are saying about a new wave of mobilization: read it in Verstka’s article on the website (with VPN):

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“The fools willing to do it for money have run out”: how the Russian authorities are trying to solve the shortage of contract soldiers

They are discussing different scenarios, including the rotation of reservists and mobilization