On August 11, 2026, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukrainian intelligence services had managed to obtain an internal Russian document proving that the Russians would launch a new mobilization following the parliamentary elections. According to Zelenskyy, by the end of the year Russia could be capable of mobilizing several hundred thousand men, in addition to contract-based recruitment.
Based on this information, experts are raising the question of whether Russia is entering a new phase in the mobilization of its military and hybrid capabilities, clearly aimed at continuing the war in Ukraine. At the same time, by taking this step, Russia is forcing the European Union to increase the amount of military support to Ukraine, thereby keeping the war going.
Moscow has not yet officially announced any special measures. However, if Ukrainian military intelligence is to be believed, Russian orders for various versions of Shahed, Geran, and Gerbera drones are continuously increasing, exceeding 100,000 aircraft in 2026, compared with approximately 12,000 in 2024. The secret document obtained by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (GUR) also refers to jet-powered drones and mentions that Russia has begun production of the Geran-4, which was specifically designed to facilitate the interception of new Ukrainian defense drones.
If we give credence to the document now presented by the Ukrainian president, we must recognize that these trends indicate that Russia is seeking to keep the war going and expand it, while at the same time using this move to force the European Union to continue standing by Ukraine with increased military aid.
