Even the most pessimistic observers must admit that the way things are going, Russia needs nothing short of a miracle to avoid a devastating defeat. In a much-awaited TV appearance on Wednesday, Putin announced a partial military mobilisation, a high-risk, high-reward political gamble he had hoped so much to avoid. From the perspective of the Russian military elites, mobilisation is long overdue. In the eyes of the military, more troops are exactly what the Russian army needs to turn the war around. If all goes to plan, mobilisation could help quickly replenish Russian troops in occupied territories and stop Ukrainian advances.

Source: The Guardian September 24, 2022 05:36 UTC