Putin may declare total mobilization after ‘elections’: Colonel Chernyk on serious danger for Ukraine

Ukrainian Colonel Petro Chernyk expressed this opinion on Espreso TV.

"As soon as Putin is self-appointed president of the Russian Federation, he can declare total mobilization, which is a serious danger. The Russians have from 1.5 to 3 million personnel in the mobilization resource. Almost all adult men know how to use Kalashnikovs," he said.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces colonel told what the Russians’ problems are at the front today, including in the Zaporizhzhia sector.

"Now the invaders cannot replace more than 1,200 people a day. The Ukrainian Armed Forces, in turn, destroy up to 30,000 soldiers per month. Robotyne is a large cut-through foothold that we are holding quite successfully. The Armed Forces are coping with this task. The occupiers will try to level this "operational hole". In my opinion, they don't have the forces and means to do so now. But again, this is until Putin is reappointed as president," he said.

Putin has a strategic plan for the elections. The move to the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions is his personal order. He needs at least some success, and Avdiivka alone is not enough, Chernyk says.

"Russia's strategic objective remains to reach the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. But now it looks like the Armed Forces will cope with this task. They will destroy this strategic plan before Putin's election. If we hold the rebel lines, despite the fact that the Russians are on the attack, it will be a very serious image collapse for Putin," he added.

• On December 8, 2023, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin announced his intention to run for the presidency of Russia in 2024. The "elections" are multi-day and take place, among other places, in the temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories.
• From March 11 to 15, early voting for the Russian president continued in the temporarily occupied territory of Luhansk region, intended for residents of communities remote from the so-called polling stations.
• Ukraine has called on the international community not to send observers to the temporarily occupied territories, and on the media not to call the fake vote an election.