Russian President Vladimir Putin could formally declare war on Ukraine as soon as 9 May, a move that would enable the full mobilisation of Russia's reserve forces, US and Western officials believe, according to CNN.
Those Western officials have long believed that Putin would leverage the symbolic significance and propaganda value of that day to announce either a military achievement in Ukraine, a major escalation of hostilities — or both.
"I think he will try to move from his 'special operation,'" British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told LBC Radio last week. "He's been rolling the pitch, laying the ground for being able to say 'look, this is now a war against Nazis, and what I need is more people. I need more Russian cannon fodder.'"
Some reserve officers are starting to receive their draft cards, according to ISTORIES. A draft card in Russia is an official notice which requires its recipient to turn up at a recruiting station within specified time. The age of reserve officers who received their draft cards varies between 40 and 60.
Some reserves were also offered to sign a job contract requiring them to conduct “administrative activities” on Ukraine’s occupied territory, with an approximate monthly wage of 100,000 rubles (€1400).
Vladimir Putin declared ‘a special military operation’ on the morning of 24 February. The Russian Defence Ministry claims that no conscripts are involved.
