Russia is unlikely to announce mobilization in near future - military expert Zgurets

Defense Express CEO and military expert Serhiy Zgurets shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

"In fact, Russia is now mainly conducting a defensive operation. For the Russian troops, it will be a conditional victory if they hold their positions. And then they will turn the confrontation into a format of exhausting combat operations. The forces and means that Russia has today are actually enough to conduct a defensive operation without announcing a general mobilization. If you look at the enemy's losses, even in personnel, they amount to 15,000-20,000, according to the General Staff. And Russia's covert mobilization allows it to replenish losses of up to 20,000 every month. That is, in fact, the personnel allows them to compensate for the losses that our forces inflict on the enemy at the front," said the Defense Express CEO.

Serhiy Zgurets sees no factors for Russia to announce mobilization in the near future.

"At the same time, this sets a task for our side - to increase the level of enemy losses. This is done mainly through the use of artillery. And the issue of ammunition is now a criterion for assessing the ability of European countries and the United States to supply the Ukrainian army. We have now managed to destroy a significant amount of enemy forces through artillery, and the enemy's reserves are being pulled into the first line of defense. This means that pressure on the enemy is growing, and their reserves are decreasing. But in general, a certain dynamic balance in the capabilities of the Russian and Ukrainian armies is being achieved. So far, neither army has a significant advantage on the battlefield. Thus, neither side can ensure the interception of the strategic initiative," Zgurets summarized.

• According to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as of August 21, since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Russian army has lost 257,930 soldiers.

• The report of the Institute for the Study of War also notes that the Ukrainian Armed Forces' strikes on Russia’s rear undermine the morale of Russian troops.