Summary
Vladimir Putin ordered the conscription of 160,000 men—the largest draft since 2011—despite ongoing U.S.-mediated ceasefire talks with Ukraine.
The move raises doubts about Russia’s commitment to diplomacy, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of using talks to buy time for battlefield gains in Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia.
Ukraine claims Russia intends to escalate the war, citing forced contracts for conscripts. Losses remain high on both sides, with Russia reportedly losing over 100,000 troops in 2024 alone.
Between Zelensky publicly stating Putin has health issues and will die soon, and the recent incident with Putin’s limousine, he may not have a whole lot longer in any event. One can only hope…
Putin’s limo explosion got very little exposure in the American media. They don’t want anyone getting any big ideas about a rising resistance.