Russia may force more men to fight in Ukraine as military faces heavy losses

Key Points:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed rumors of a full military mobilization as "complete nonsense," despite previously reversing similar promises in 2022 with a partial mobilization still ongoing.
• With estimated Russian military casualties around 40,000 per month, signs indicate the Kremlin may prepare for a broader draft after upcoming parliamentary elections to replenish forces depleted by Ukraine's drone warfare.
• Videos and reports reveal many new Russian recruits feel coerced or tricked into service, with authorities increasingly resorting to questionable recruitment tactics amid declining volunteer numbers.
• Independent analysts warn that a full mobilization could occur in September or October, posing risks of further escalation and destabilization in the region, while many Russian men seek to avoid conscription by fleeing abroad.
• The Russian government has enhanced its digital registry to track eligible men, making draft evasion more difficult as the war's human toll continues to mount without achieving Putin’s territorial objectives.