The situation regarding the personnel of the Russian Armed Forces has reached a critical point. The commander and founder of the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC), Denis "White Rex" Kapustin, expressed his conviction that Vladimir Putin will announce a general mobilization in the near future. This was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing the "24" TV channel.
Recruitment Crisis and Resource Exhaustion
According to Kapustin, the Kremlin can no longer ignore the arithmetic of losses: recent months show that the number of killed and wounded on the front significantly exceeds the number of new mobilized soldiers. The contract-based model of army recruitment, which for a long time served as the basis for replenishing the ranks, has effectively exhausted itself.
Kapustin notes that the main influx of contractors came from the regions, while residents of megacities such as Moscow and St. Petersburg demonstrate extremely low readiness to participate in hostilities. In an attempt to solve the problem of personnel shortage, the authorities previously resorted to financial incentives. During the first recruitment crisis, some regions offered payments ranging from 2 to 4 million rubles. However, according to the RVC commander, the Kremlin is unable to finance such a large-scale campaign on a permanent basis.
Public Anxiety and Kremlin Plans
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the Russian leadership shows no intention of ending the conflict. Vladimir Putin continues to insist on achieving his military objectives, despite the growing public fatigue with the war. Under these conditions, according to experts, the dictator has only one tool left to continue the war — forced mobilization.
"If people do not go to war for money, then they will be mobilized," Kapustin summarized. He emphasized that Russian society is already living in anticipation of an impending catastrophe. The RVC commander is convinced that a new wave of total mobilization is inevitable and will most likely affect major cities this time, which will become a serious problem for internal stability.
Public Reaction
Ordinary citizens of Russia, according to Kapustin, have already guessed the leadership's plans. The realization that the volunteer principle and contracts no longer work creates an atmosphere of anxiety. While Putin continues to publicly repeat his maximalist goals, the reality on the ground dictates the need for radical measures to mobilize human resources.