Why Putin is drafting up to 300,000 Russian reservists to fight in Ukraine: Will it work?

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of army reservists on Wednesday, recalling up to 300,000 Russian military veterans to active duty. The mobilization is intended to replenish the ranks of the Russian Army, which has suffered grievous losses in Ukraine. Despite intentions to bolster the army’s fighting ranks, the move could end up further stressing the situation.

Putin’s announcement, which was postponed for 24 hours, rehashed old grievances, mostly aimed at Ukraine and the West. Putin referred to Ukrainians as “Neo-Nazis” and described them as puppets of Western governments. He referred to “endless threats” against Russia, including what he complained was “nuclear blackmail” over the shelling of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station, even claiming that some Western leaders were contemplating using nuclear weapons against Russia. He explained that, in his view, the goal of Western countries—which he accused of genocide—is to destroy Russia.

Explaining why the mobilization was necessary was a much trickier task. Putin made no direct reference to Russian casualties, which have been severe, but instead said that Russia was now fighting “the entire military machine of the collective West.” (The Russian President made no distinction between Western military aid and Western military forces, the latter of which have not appeared on the Ukrainian battlefield). Putin described a front line that is “over 1,000 kilometers long,” implying that was part of the reason for the mobilization.

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