Russia Claims 200,000 Signed Military Contracts

According to the DPA news agency, Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said about 200,000 people signed contracts with the Russian armed forces in the first half of the year, while another 16,000 joined as volunteers.

Medvedev dismissed claims by the Ukrainian leadership that Russia is preparing a new mobilization, calling them a “deceitful provocation” intended to destabilize the country ahead of September's parliamentary elections.

According to Medvedev, the military is fully meeting its personnel requirements through generous financial incentives and voluntary contracts, making another mobilization unnecessary.

Although the Kremlin denies it is planning another draft, many Russians remain skeptical following the unexpected partial mobilization announced in 2022.

At the same time, independent sources indicate that Ukraine is also facing a severe manpower shortage on the front lines, with authorities struggling to curb desertions and draft evasion.

Meanwhile, in Washington, President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed the situation on the battlefield and the resumption of peace talks with US President Donald Trump.

(max)