Report: Russia prepares for mass military draft after elections

A Wall Street Journal report, based on intelligence sources, reveals that Russia is preparing for another mass military draft, including in the Kaliningrad exclave. Russian army commanders have examined draft readiness in the region. The Kremlin has not yet made a final decision and is expected to avoid a decision until after the parliamentary elections in September. Zelensky estimated that Russia plans to draft 300,000 additional soldiers, and possibly even half a million. The expectation of a draft is creating unrest and an exodus of men from Russia, with a record number crossing the border into Georgia and rising housing prices in neighboring countries.

A Wall Street Journal report, citing intelligence sources, reveals that Russia is preparing for a new round of mass military conscription, including in the Kaliningrad exclave, the Russian territory located between Poland and Lithuania. According to the report, last month Russian army commanders arrived in the exclave to examine readiness planning and the conscription processes of the region's residents. However, the Kremlin has not yet made a final decision on implementing the draft and is expected to avoid a decision until after the Russian parliamentary elections, scheduled for late September. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the issue, stating that Kyiv estimates Russia is preparing to draft 300,000 additional soldiers as part of a broad conscription process that will begin after the elections. Zelensky added that Russia may continue to draft soldiers next year as well, aiming to reach a target of about half a million soldiers in the Russian army. The rumors of the approaching draft are creating significant unrest in Russia, with many men seeking ways to leave the country. Moscow's customs services reported a record number of crossings at the border between Russia and Georgia, with over 20,000 people crossing in a single day, although the Georgian Interior Ministry disputed these figures. Meanwhile, housing prices have risen in recent weeks in Georgia and Armenia, partly due to the expectation of another wave of migrants from Russia, according to real estate agents in these countries.