Russian President Vladimir Putin, who continues to invade Ukraine, made a televised address to the nation, and announced that the soldiers to be dispatched to the battlefield were not only professional soldiers, but also a presidential decree to partially mobilize the so-called reserves called up in an emergency. announced that he had signed



The Putin administration seems to have a stronger sense of crisis in response to the Ukrainian military's reversal offensive.



Why this timing?

where is the aim?


We asked Hisashi Gonpei, chief of the Moscow bureau.

What was the purpose of the partial mobilization at this timing?

It can be said that it is to make up for the serious shortage of soldiers while avoiding the backlash of public opinion.

The background is the prolonged military invasion and the Ukrainian military's counteroffensive.


In line with Putin's speech, Defense Minister Shoigu announced that the death toll on the Russian side was 5,937.



After announcing 1351 people in March this year, a new figure has finally been released half a year later.

However, many believe that the actual death toll is much higher.



Earlier this month, when reports of a reversal offensive were reported, one of Putin's aides urged local governors to mobilize on their own, and there were even reports that prisoners were being recruited into battle. .



For the Putin administration, which insists that the invasion of Ukraine is a "military operation," it would be self-contradictory to impose a national mobilization, which means a "state of war," so to speak.



The partial mobilization this time can be said to be a desperate measure, and it can also be said that it is the inside out of impatience in response to the Ukrainian army's reversal offensive.

How is the reception in Russia?

When I heard the story in Moscow immediately after President Putin's speech, 11 out of 13 people generally supported the decision, although it was assumed that it was a Japanese media.

Even so, there were young people who clearly opposed it, and a mother who was worried about her son's mobilization.



In Russia, a popular singer recently described the invasion of Ukraine as a "fantastic goal" and criticized it, saying, "I want to stop children being killed for such a goal." Collecting.



President Putin has finally embarked on a mobilization that could cause turmoil and opposition from some of the people.

He intends to continue the invasion, but it is unclear whether it will go as planned.