"Confusion" about Russia's partial mobilization - experts see a rift between Putin and Shoigu

Created: 09/25/2022, 10:00 am

By: Franziska Schwarz

Photo from August 15: Vladimir Putin (left) and Sergei Shoigu in Moscow © Sergei Bobylev/Imago

According to an analysis, the conscription in Russia is not going as officially planned.

News ticker on military events in the Ukraine war.

• Partial mobilization

  by

  Putin

  : Insider reports resistance in Ministry of Defense

• Protests

  in

  Russia

  : Selenskyj calls on Moscow to give up

• This

  news ticker on military developments

  in the Ukraine war is constantly updated.

Kyiv/Washington - Who should now fight for Russia in the Ukraine war?

A missing point in the decree created confusion on the issue.

According to Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, Moscow wants to conscript a total of 300,000 men - that could contradict Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin's plan, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its latest update from September 25.

Partial mobilization by Putin: Insider reports resistance in Ministry of Defense

Russian Defense Ministry officials are said to have reprimanded the military for sending out “excessive” drafts without paying attention to exceptions such as age or restrictions.

The ISW reports, citing an unnamed insider.

According to the ISW report, the federal districts are responsible for conducting conscription, while the Ministry of Defense sets the quotas and deadlines.

But here there is now “confusion, disorganization and violations of the specifications.”

"This points to a possible rift between Shoigu and Putin," is the assessment of the ISW's military experts.

The ISW is a think tank based in Washington.

Protests in Russia: Selenskyj calls on Moscow to give up

After new protests against Russian partial mobilization, Volodymyr Zelenskyj has meanwhile called on Moscow's fighters to surrender.

It is better to refuse to be called up for service than to die as a war criminal on foreign soil, the Ukrainian president said in a video message - in Russian.

At the same time he offered that Russian soldiers could voluntarily go into captivity.

There they would be treated in a civilized manner.

The partial mobilization for the Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered panic among many Russians, and many are trying to leave the country.

More than 2,000 people have been arrested during protests in dozens of cities in Russia since Wednesday (September 21).