Russian MPs are apparently losing patience because of the Ukraine counter-offensive.
A “general mobilization” is in the air.
Kremlin spokesman Peskov dismisses the idea.
Moscow - Nobody knows how Vladimir Putin has been waking up in the morning since the Ukraine war.
After more than 200 days of his attack on the neighboring country, the Kremlin boss seems to be in trouble.
Russian politicians are calling for Putin's resignation, and criticism can be heard on state television.
Now the small wave of unusually clear words is apparently also reaching the Duma.
The resentment was directed at his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu.
Speakers blamed him for the successes of the Ukrainian counter-offensive, as reported by CNN.
The US broadcaster showed the first impressions from the recently liberated Isjum.
Russia: Criticism of Putin's military for Ukraine offensive - "All Telegram channels informed"
According to the report, fewer and fewer Russian MPs believe that Russia's military is not withdrawing from the Kharkiv region, but is merely "regrouping".
For example, Russia has a “Council on Inter-Ethnic Relations” and Bogdan Bezpalko is a member.
According to CNN, he now wants to hold the military accountable for ignoring public references to Ukraine's counter-offensive.
"All Telegram channels have been reporting for a good two months that the Ukrainian armed forces are mobilizing with military equipment in these regions," Bezpalko claimed on Monday (September 11) - on Russian state television of all places.
"Of course it's a tactical defeat," he added.
Vladimir Putin: The political career of the Russian head of state in pictures
Vladimir Putin: The political career of the Russian head of state in pictures
General mobilization in the Ukraine war?
Doubts about Russia's capacities
Bezpalko therefore called for a "partial" general mobilization of Russia.
The Duma is apparently also considering a general mobilization in the true sense of the word.
The actual prohibited word “war” is also mentioned.
"In my opinion, over the past two months, the special operation in Ukraine and Donbass has turned into a war," Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov said in parliament.
He made it to the front page of
Nezavisimaya Gazeta
daily .
"The Americans, united Europe and NATO declared this war on us," said the 78-year-old, according to a dpa report - adding: "Every war requires an answer.
Above all, maximum mobilization of forces and resources is required.” Meanwhile, Zyuganov's party colleague Mikhail Matveyev caused a stir by saying that leading Russian politicians would “actually have to shoot themselves or at least volunteer for the front” after such a debacle.
Putin under pressure: party friend indirectly calls for general mobilization
Even a member of the Kremlin's United Russia party, MP Mikhail Sheremet, recently warned that Moscow's goals in Ukraine cannot be achieved without mobilization.
A general mobilization - really?
"Not at the moment, there is no question of that," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday (September 12) according to the Interfax agency.
The background may be the concern about domestic political consequences.
"Sending large parts of the urban elite to war would be a huge risk," military expert Gustav Gressel told the
Munich newspaper Merkur
in an interview published on Thursday.
In order to get the one and a half million additional soldiers that are probably needed, "complete" mobilization would have to take place and reservists would have to be drafted.
But then you still need training.
Reports of the poor state of the Russian army have existed since the beginning of the war.
(frs)
