Covert mobilization continues in Russia, the occupying country's army is replenished by a total of 20,000 men every month. This was stated by the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense (GUR MO) of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, in an interview with the "RBK-Ukraine" agency, published on April 24.
According to him, the mobilization in Russia is now "progressing normally". At the same time, the Russian Federation has not yet used up all the servicemen it mobilized in the first wave in the fall of 2022.
"Of the number that was already officially called up at that time, about 120,000 [have not yet been transferred to Ukraine]," Budanov clarified.
As the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications said, currently the mobilized, who have not yet been transferred, are on the territory of the Russian Federation, some of them previously trained at Belarusian training grounds.
"They can't all be transferred, you still have to understand that. Because there are losses, there is some current work, someone has to do it. Since the losses are quite significant, someone has to compensate for this shortage," he explained.
Budanov gave, in his words, a "bright example" of what other methods the Russian Federation is secretly trying to strengthen its group in Ukraine.
"A few days ago, Russia secretly (they will not talk about it) made a decision, they have already issued an order to withdraw the peacekeeping contingent from the region of the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia and replace the existing contingent with a contingent of conscripts. That is, contract workers are taken away, conscripts are sent. How do you you see, it's absolutely not because they're doing well," Budanov added.
We will remind you that on September 21, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "partial" mobilization in Russia to replenish the troops that invaded Ukraine. On October 28, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to Putin about its completion.
