Russia concerned war in Ukraine will affect election results - ISW

This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

It is reported that the initiative of the Russian Defense Ministry to increase the maximum age of conscription from 27 to 30 years has caused a heated discussion among Kremlin officials. The sources claimed that the Russian Security Council urged the Presidential Administration not to support the MoD initiative out of fear that it would provoke a negative public reaction and affect the approval ratings of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Sources said that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu pushed the initiative and maintained Putin's support despite the Security Council's concerns. It is believed that Putin supported the Defense Ministry's initiative only after listening to Shoigu's arguments about the lack of soldiers in Ukraine.

Representatives of the United Russia political party are afraid to use the war in Ukraine in their campaigns for the upcoming regional and local elections, as they are concerned about how voters will react.

• On May 23, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Anna Maliar emphasized that Putin's regime in Russia causes dissatisfaction among all conscious Russians. 
• At the end of May, political analyst Abbas Gallyamov said that Putin is facing a very serious crisis, and this is due to the upcoming presidential election.