The Kremlin will not initiate a nationwide mobilization effort to bolster its military, a spokesperson said on Tuesday, even as Ukraine is engaged in its most successful counterattack since Russia's invasion of the country began.
"At the moment no, there is no discussion of this," spokesman Dmitry Peskov said when asked about the possibility that Russia could mobilize its reserve forces. His comments contradicted Mikhail Sheremet, a State Duma deputy from the ruling party, who said a day earlier that “full mobilization” was necessary for Russia to succeed in Ukraine, according to Reuters.
Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said on Tuesday that "most of all, we need maximum mobilization of our strength and resources" in order to win what he described as a "war" against the United States, Europe, and NATO. Zyuganov’s reference to the “war” is notable because Kremlin leaders, since the invasion began, have described it as a “special military operation.”
Should Russia call up its reserve forces, it would likely be forced to acknowledge to its people that the “special military operation” is both not going well and a full military operation.
