Putin may be considering to announce military mobilization – US president secretary

Jake Sullivan, the US Presidential Security Advisor, on Tuesday said that Washington was aware that Russian President Vladimir Putin “may be considering the announcement of military mobilization”, amid the ongoing war against Ukraine. 

He stressed that the reports on possible mobilization in Russia pointed to the difficulties that Moscow faced in the war. 

“He [Putin] can partially mobilize to force more Russians to participate in the war against Ukraine, ”Sullivan said.

The US politician noted that Russia “needs more people not only in Donbas, where they continue to attack, but also where they try to restrain the counterattack of Ukrainian troops”.

The Russian State Duma on Tuesday adopted amendments to the country’s Criminal Code to increase liability for certain crimes against military service. 

New concepts have been introduced into the Criminal Code, which included voluntary surrender, looting, mobilization, wartime and martial law. 

Per the amendments, an individual faces three to ten years in prison if there are no signs of treason, while for looting – up to 15 years in prison.