VLADIMIR Putin could reportedly launch a huge mobilisation of soldiers within months as Ukraine tightens the screw on Russia’s war machine.
The chilling warning came from Czech President Petr Pavel, who warned danger will soar after Russia‘s parliamentary vote on September 20 is over.
Putin could reportedly launch a huge mobilisation of soldiers within months Credit: AFP
Russia is planning an armed attack on Poland, Washington has warned Credit: REUTERS
He told The Telegraph: “Russia will have parliamentary elections in September.
“President Putin will hardly declare mobilisation before, but once the elections are over, then the window will shrink.”
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The retired general warned Ukraine has just two months to restart peace talks before Moscow could ramp up the war.
He said: “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.”
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Pavel said Russia is buckling under growing pressure, with Ukraine’s relentless long-range drone blitz hammering oil sites, tankers and military targets deep inside Russian territory.
He said: “Russia has a lot of internal problems and challenges at this point.
“The Russian public is turning increasingly against the war.”
Pavel warned Putin will struggle to “keep calm at home” as pressure on Russia continues to mount.
Ukraine’s SBU security service strikes deep inside Russia as major Perm refinery set ablaze Credit: East2West
Pavel warned Putin will struggle to ‘keep calm at home’ as pressure on Russia continues to mount Credit: Getty
He said continued Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russian territory would “create conditions where Russia will be more inclined to negotiate”.
The Czech leader urged Nato allies to keep piling pressure on Moscow by arming Kyiv and forcing Putin towards the negotiating table.
He said allies must “keep pushing hard” by giving Kyiv the weapons it needs while using diplomacy to convince Russia it has no choice but to negotiate.
Pavel warned the Kremlin could gain more from ending the war through talks than continuing a conflict that risks further losses.
The caution comes as Ukraine’s devastating strikes continue to strangle Russia’s oil industry and heap fresh misery on millions of civilians.
Russia processed an average of just 4.1 million barrels of oil a day in June.
The result is 28 per cent below the five-year average and 35 per cent below nominal capacity after Kyiv intensified attacks in May.
Ten of Russia’s biggest refineries have been hit, including the huge Omsk refinery some 2,500km from the front line.
US intelligence reportedly warned Warsaw of a possible Russian border incursion
Satellite images show a Russian military build up along its border with Nato countries
The refinery accounts for around seven per cent of the country’s refining capacity.
The fuel crisis is now affecting around 50 million Russians, according to analysis by the Financial Times, with fuel restrictions introduced across most regions.
Long queues have formed outside petrol stations and fights have erupted at pumps.
Crimea remains under a state of emergency with petrol rationed through electronic vouchers.
Pressure intensified after Ukrainian drones blasted Moscow’s main Kapotnya oil refinery.
The key fuel hub supplies up to 70 per cent of the capital’s fuel needs.
The strike also sparked travel chaos as all four of Moscow’s major airports were forced to suspend flights.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said: “This time, the Moscow region felt the reach of Ukraine’s long-range capabilities.
“An oil refinery was hit at a distance of 500 kilometres. This is a just response to Russian strikes and to the dragging out of a war that must be ended.”
He added: “We offered Putin to meet anywhere where real decisions could be made to end the war. He doesn’t want that.
“We discussed with the US and France the possibility of a meeting with Russia on the sidelines of the G7 summit involving all democratic states, but Putin doesn’t want that either.”
Military analysts say the strikes are leaving Putin boxed in.
Institute for the Study of War analyst Kateryna Stepanenko said: “Russian air defenses are stretched thin, and there’s not enough manpower to operate them.”
She added: “The Ukrainian mid-range and long-range strikes are – they’re sort of eliminating the gap, the time that Putin had thought he had to make some serious decisions.”
The warning comes after claims Washington believes Putin could be plotting an attack on Poland to test Nato.
US intelligence reportedly warned Warsaw of a possible Russian border incursion.
The Kremlin could use missiles or drones in a bid to trigger panic and force talks.
The fears come after satellite images showed Russia expanding bases near Nato borders.
New barracks, warehouses and troops have been moved closer to Poland, Finland, Norway and Estonia.
