Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky claims Putin is drafting 300,000 troops and gives warning on wartime elections

Ukraine’s president made the stark warning that a new surge of Russia troops could join the war as early as September

Russia will strike "the most sensitive areas" of Ukraine's economy after Kyiv launched long-range drone attacks, Putin said.

Ukraine thinks Russia is planning to draft an additional 300,000 troops for its war effort after Russian parliamentary elections in mid-September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. Moscow’s forces are pressing ahead with an effort to capture the rest of eastern Ukraine’s industrialised Donbas region, whe

Zelensky said Russia could draft more troops in 2027 to reach an overall goal of 500,000.

The move would risk triggering widespread fury in Russia. 14:14, Sun, Aug 23, 2026 Updated: 14:14, Sun, Aug 23, 2026 Vladimir Putin could be on the verge of mobilising another 300,000 troops, Volodymyr Zelensky warned (Image: Getty)Vladimir Putin could be on the verge of mobilising another 300,000 troops this year, Vol

Russia is likely to mobilize another 300,000 troops later this year, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as it tries to complete the capture of a long-coveted region of east Ukraine. In wide-ranging remarks released Sunday, Zelensky said he expected that the Russians would end the year occupying the sa

Russia likely to mobilize at least 300,000 more troops to Ukraine war, Zelensky warns  CNN

Ukraine thinks Russia is planning to draft an additional 300,000 troops for its war effort after Russian parliamentary elections in mid-September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Putin previously said Kyiv had opened “Pandora’s box” by striking economic targets.

Ukraine has launched drone attacks targeting a Russian oil refinery and a online retail warehouse, while Russia continues its campaign of missile attacks on Kyiv.

Anton Astakhov, the son of Pavel Astakhov, a lawyer and Russia’s former children’s rights commissioner, has been named in two criminal cases — one involving fraud, the other the illegal awarding of military decorations during the war.