Russian President Vladimir Putin could launch a new large-scale mobilisation of troops within months as Ukraine continues to intensify attacks on Russia’s military and energy infrastructure, according to Czech President Petr Pavel.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Pavel said any decision on mobilisation is unlikely to come before Russia’s parliamentary elections scheduled for September 20. He suggested that once the elections are over, the Kremlin could move to recruit more soldiers to sustain its war effort in Ukraine.
Pavel said Ukraine has a limited window to revive peace negotiations before Russia potentially escalates the conflict. “I believe that the window is there for us to keep pushing and giving Russia a clear message that we are willing to start negotiations,” he said. The Czech president argued that Russia is facing mounting internal challenges as Ukrainian long-range drone attacks continue to target oil refineries, military facilities and other strategic infrastructure deep inside Russian territory.
According to him, public support for the war in Russia is gradually weakening, increasing pressure on the Kremlin. He added that the sustained attacks could make Russia more willing to negotiate an end to the conflict.
Pavel urged NATO allies to continue supplying Ukraine with military assistance while maintaining diplomatic efforts aimed at encouraging peace talks. He said continued pressure could convince Moscow that ending the war through negotiations would be more beneficial than prolonging the conflict.
Ukraine has stepped up long-range drone strikes in recent months, targeting several major Russian oil facilities. Reports indicate that Russia’s average daily oil processing fell significantly in June following repeated attacks on refineries, with several major facilities affected.
The strikes have reportedly disrupted fuel supplies in parts of Russia, leading to restrictions in some regions and long queues at petrol stations. Ukraine has also claimed responsibility for a drone strike on Moscow’s Kapotnya oil refinery, one of the capital’s main fuel suppliers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attacks demonstrate Ukraine’s growing long-range strike capability and described them as a response to continued Russian attacks. He also accused Putin of refusing opportunities for direct peace negotiations despite international efforts to facilitate dialogue.
Military analysts have suggested that the repeated strikes are stretching Russia’s air defence systems and increasing pressure on its military resources. Separately, reports have claimed that U.S. intelligence has warned Poland about the possibility of future Russian military provocations near NATO borders, although no official confirmation has been provided by the Kremlin.
Satellite imagery has also reportedly shown increased Russian military activity near several NATO member states, including Poland, Finland, Norway and Estonia. The war between Russia and Ukraine, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, continues with both sides carrying out attacks far beyond the frontline while diplomatic efforts to end the conflict remain stalled.