When can Putin declare general mobilization? Military expert suggests

He said this on Espreso TV.

"The invaders in Crimea are rounding up all men and sending them to the front with virtually no training. Others in Russia are somewhat luckier, as they undergo a basic combat training course and, in some cases, even manage to complete unit coordination exercises. Some Western experts have calculated the average lifespan of a Russian soldier on the front lines. According to their data, this period ranges from two to four weeks. However, it is important to understand that one invader might survive for just a day on the front, while another might last a year. Those who hold their ground for a year on the battlefield become a fairly serious and well-prepared force," explained Lakiichuk.

According to the expert, the Russians are now facing a shortage of mobilized personnel for the front due to significant losses.

"The Russian General Staff relies on last year's indicators when planning mobilization efforts for the next year. Their reality is such that it is clear mobilization inflows are insufficient. Therefore, it is still unclear how the Kremlin will address this situation and whether they will resort to announcing a mobilization. However, Putin has everything legislatively prepared to declare mobilization as early as January 25. This is, of course, a threat to us, and it will definitely not be easy for us. But it is also unclear how events will unfold in Russia after this," he added.

• On December 6, the Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff reported that since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Russia has lost more than 750,000 soldiers in the war in Ukraine.