Russia will resort to drafting college students to throw more troops at the front lines, Ukrainian intel says

Russian soldiers
Russian soldiers in St. Petersburg on August 25, 2022.Photo by OLGA MALTSEVA/AFP via Getty Images
  • Russia is preparing to draft college students to the front lines in its war in Ukraine.

  • According to Ukrainian intel, universities have set up "notification offices" to inform students.

  • The intel states that the next wave of mobilization will be complete by April 1.

Russia is preparing to draft full-time college students to the front lines in its war in Ukraine, according to Ukranian intel.

Purported documents, revealed by the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Defense Ministry, show that Russia is "taking measures to ensure the next wave of mobilization."

"Notification offices" are already being set up to help draft the students and ship them to the frontlines, Ukrainian intelligence alleged.

"Currently, capacities for the mass mobilization of students of higher educational institutions are being actively increased," the intel said.

Students and university employees are reportedly working at these notification offices at multiple universities, like Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University and Tomsk State Pedagogical University.

The intel also said that full-time students are being assigned to work at these notification offices "without their consent or even prior notification."

"It is likely that the mobilization will be carried out by April 1, the beginning of the spring draft for conscription," Ukraine intelligence said.

Russia previously announced a "partial mobilization" in September 2022, according to the intel, but it "was never officially completed," meaning no "additional legal grounds are needed for the next wave of mobilization."

The draft efforts will continue through the next few months, but will finish by the spring, Ukrainian intel said.

"It is likely that the mobilization will be carried out by April 1 — the beginning of the spring draft for conscription."

Insider previously reported that Russia's army has dealt with massive losses in the war, according to Ukrainian officials and Western intelligence.

Last Thursday, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said some Russian units had suffered 80% casualties in Ukraine.

Translations by Oleksandr Vynogradov

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