"The Russians Have Already Started To Scatter"

• 30.08.2026, 18:48

The Kremlin may be preparing for a new phase of mobilization.

In Russia new signs are emerging of preparations for mobilization infrastructure, and some Russians are already trying to leave the country. Does this mean preparations are underway for a new mass mobilization, and how will Russians react if the Kremlin does decide to take such a step?

This was discussed in interview with the website Charter97.org, former Verkhovna Rada deputy Borislav Bereza said:

— Let’s start with how sheep behave when they’re being led to slaughter. The sheep bleat silently and walk toward the meat processing plant. The situation here is exactly the same.

But right now, by the way, I’m looking at events that might suggest a slightly different angle. This isn’t a general, large-scale mobilization, but most likely an expansion of the mobilization centers that already exist.

Let me explain what I mean. As of today, Russia continues to contract 90,000 mercenaries per quarter who are ready to serve in the Russian occupation army. 90,000 is roughly the number currently available. But they need to build up a reserve. Therefore, it is quite possible that training centers are currently being prepared specifically for this reserve.

So for now, it’s unclear whether there will be a mobilization or not. Western experts say that Putin currently has enough troops—90,000 to 93,000 contract soldiers. This includes Russians, Russian criminals, and foreigners whom they manage to mobilize each quarter. There are enough of them to make up for losses. But building up reserves may be an entirely different matter.

Will Russians resist? Some will leave, as we are already seeing. In Armenia, rental prices for Russians have already risen by 30 percent. In Kazakhstan, controls on the entry of Russians are currently being tightened. A huge number of people are also entering Georgia. We’re seeing that some are leaving for Turkey.

Russians are fleeing because they know: you can expect anything from the Russian authorities. But as for whether Putin has made a final decision to actually carry out a large-scale, nationwide mobilization, I don’t see any confirmation of that yet.

Moreover, as far as I recall, a trial run of this kind of mobilization was conducted in Penza, where Russians were herded onto buses, and they remained silent. Some people were outraged, wives were screaming, but on the whole, Russians remain silent.

Even though this isn’t about defending their homeland but about occupation forces, even that doesn’t make Russians disagree with the authorities. Unfortunately, Russian sheep are willing to serve the “Ozero” cooperative so it can make money, and to give their lives for the occupying regime. I see nothing else.

And one more point. We must take into account that the economic situation in Russia today is not very good. Therefore, against the backdrop of tightening the screws and everything that’s happening, additional pressure could lead to instability in Russia. And Putin is very afraid of that. We’ll see if he’ll escalate the situation by launching mobilization efforts.