Upper Lars crossing into Georgia

Russian men are reportedly being blocked from leaving the country as speculation intensifies that Vladimir Putin could order another mass mobilisation for the war in Ukraine.

The reports come as Ukrainian estimates put Russia’s total military casualties at almost 1.5 million since the full-scale invasion, with losses reportedly reaching as high as 1,600 personnel a day through deaths and injuries.

Border bans trigger fresh mobilisation fears

Dozens of Russian conscripts have reportedly been stopped at borders with Belarus and elsewhere, with human rights groups saying travel restrictions are appearing in official systems.

One reported case involved a conscript who found no restriction in an electronic registry before a Moscow-Yerevan flight, only to be told at the border that he could not leave. Minutes later, the travel ban reportedly appeared in the registry.

Reports cited by the Kyiv Post said 23 of 73 conscripts attempting to leave were blocked. Separately, anti-war group Idite Lesom said seven of 11 conscripts who contacted it after trying to cross through Belarus were stopped.

Putin insists there will be no new call-up

The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected claims that another mobilisation is imminent. Putin has said Russia has no need for one, insisting troops are continuing to enlist voluntarily through Defence Ministry contracts.

“There is no scenario today that would require mobilisation,” Putin said, dismissing the warnings as an alleged Ukrainian disinformation campaign ahead of Russia’s State Duma elections.

But speculation has continued to grow, with some reports suggesting a potential call-up could involve as many as 1.2 million people.

Russia expands the machinery for new recruits

Western intelligence assessments have also pointed to preparations to receive, train and equip additional personnel.

Russia has expanded military training centres at universities, with their number reportedly rising from 114 in 2022 to 150 today. Meanwhile, traffic through the Upper Lars crossing into Georgia surged sharply in August, with more than 19,000 to 20,000 people reportedly crossing each day between August 15 and 18.

The Kremlin denies preparing another mobilisation. But the tightening borders, expanding training infrastructure and growing exodus fears are fuelling speculation that Moscow is preparing for a fresh and potentially massive demand for manpower.

Recruits banned from leaving Russia with fears of mass draft after Ukraine death toll soars

And for this, Thai tourists spots breathe a sigh of relief. I have read reports that tourists from India are down by over 10%. Little steps in the right direction.

I've no problems with Russians who don't want to die for Vlad.

6 hours ago, bannork said:

The reports come as Ukrainian estimates put Russia’s total military casualties at almost 1.5 million since the full-scale invasion, with losses reportedly reaching as high as 1,600 personnel a day through deaths and injuries.

"Ukrainian estimates …". This is all you need to know about these figures. Both sides will over estimate the other's losses and understate their own.

Edited September 4Sep 4 by dinsdale

2 hours ago, dinsdale said:

"Ukrainian estimates …". This is all you need to know about these figures. Both sides will over estimate the other's losses and understate their own.

The figure does seem a bit ....heavy !,

Putin on mobilization:

"There is no scenario today that would require mobilization. This is an information attack by the enemy ahead of the State Duma elections. An attempt to influence the outcome. It's simply a planned information operation."

2 hours ago, Roadsternut said:

I've no problems with Russians who don't want to die for Vlad.

How about all the Ukrainians who fled the country or are in hiding within the country to avoid being drafted, given minimal training and sent straight into the meat grinder?

2 minutes ago, zmisha said:

"There is no scenario today that would require mobilization.

I'm not too sure about that. The push for Slovyansk and Kramatorsk is fully underway with Russian troops advancing on the twin cities daily. This is the primary front and the eventual battle (which is not too far away) over these fortress cities is going to be a bloodbath. If (and I think eventually when) these cities fall the push west will be on which IMO may see the return to maneuver warfare.

26 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

I'm not too sure about that. The push for Slovyansk and Kramatorsk is fully underway with Russian troops advancing on the twin cities daily. This is the primary front and the eventual battle (which is not too far away) over these fortress cities is going to be a bloodbath. If (and I think eventually when) these cities fall the push west will be on which IMO may see the return to maneuver warfare.

You said it is a war of attrition, didn't you? It seems like when you said that, you were certain attrition was only possible on one side and not on the other.

3 hours ago, dinsdale said:

"Ukrainian estimates …". This is all you need to know about these figures. Both sides will over estimate the other's losses and understate their own.

Therefore, to find the truth, we should take the data from both sides and calculate the average value.

19 minutes ago, zmisha said:

You said it is a war of attrition, didn't you? It seems like when you said that, you were certain attrition was only possible on one side and not on the other.

The outset of the war was maneuver warfare. Ukraine pushed back hard. Following the failure for Russian troops to take Kyiv and the following pushback by Ukrainian troops the war morphed into an attritional war. This was 2022.

As for "you were certain attrition was only possible on one side and not on the other." I've never said this and it's obviously not the case.

Ukraine needs to step up their brilliant drone campaign, and take out the entire Kremlin, the Politburo, Putin, all refineries and ports and cripple Russia once and for all. They are a mafia state and need to be stopped.

1 hour ago, dinsdale said:

The outset of the war was maneuver warfare. Ukraine pushed back hard. Following the failure for Russian troops to take Kyiv and the following pushback by Ukrainian troops the war morphed into an attritional war. This was 2022.

As for "you were certain attrition was only possible on one side and not on the other." I've never said this and it's obviously not the case.

The outset of the war was Russians invading with their dress uniforms in their back packs.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Ukraine needs to step up their brilliant drone campaign, and take out the entire Kremlin, the Politburo, Putin, all refineries and ports and cripple Russia once and for all. They are a mafia state and need to be stopped.

This might be what Putin is most afraid. Ukraine has proved it can pinpoint attacks in Moscow (like it has done with the big box online retail places). Only its own restraint has prevented an attack on major political targets.

4 hours ago, ronnie50 said:

This might be what Putin is most afraid. Ukraine has proved it can pinpoint attacks in Moscow (like it has done with the big box online retail places). Only its own restraint has prevented an attack on major political targets.

Biden made the first serious attempt at attacking Moscow. In response, Putin changed nuclear policy so that those who help Kyiv attack Moscow also become nuclear targets.

After that, Trump, who had been losing the election race, suddenly started winning. As a result, instead of a fair victory for the Democratic candidate, we saw the typical result of a stolen election: something like 50.0001% / 49.9999%. When they steal an election, they add the minimum number of votes needed for one candidate to win.
Vlad supporters are sure that Americans have never been given a chance to truly choose. Every time they've chosen someone other than the elites want, the election has ended in the typical result of stolen election (50.0001% / 49.9999% or so) .

Edited Saturday at 07:14 AM5 days by zmisha

8 minutes ago, zmisha said:

Biden made the first serious attempt at attacking Moscow. In response, Putin changed nuclear policy so that those who help Kyiv attack Moscow also become nuclear targets.

After that, Trump, who had been losing the election race, suddenly started winning. As a result, instead of a fair victory for the Democratic candidate, we saw the typical result of a stolen election: something like 50.0001% / 49.9999%. When they steal an election, they add the minimum number of votes needed for one candidate to win.

Nonsense post. But isn't it time for you, as a staunch defender of the Russian empire, to move back home and contribute to the cause?

Just now, stevenl said:

Nonsense post. But isn't it time for you, as a staunch defender of the Russian empire, to move back home and contribute to the cause?

The answer is right above -

8 hours ago, zmisha said:

Putin on mobilization:

"There is no scenario today that would require mobilization. This is an information attack by the enemy ahead of the State Duma elections. An attempt to influence the outcome. It's simply a planned information operation."

Russia really doesn't need soldiers. Do you know why? Because Putin plans to win with a nuclear crisis. The nuclear forces have more than enough people.