Putin seeks 300,000 fresh troops as Russia intensifies Donbas offensive

Moscow is reportedly planning to draft 300,000 additional troops as it maintains pressure on Ukrainian positions in the Donbas region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. The announcement underscores Russia's intention to sustain its military operations in eastern Ukraine despite significant losses on the battlefield.

Russian forces have been grinding forward in the Donbas—comprising the Donetsk and Luhansk regions—at considerable cost, according to Ukrainian assessments. The industrialised region remains a strategic objective for Moscow as it seeks to consolidate territorial gains in eastern Ukraine.

The scale of the proposed conscription reflects the manpower requirements for Russia's extended military campaign. Kyiv has consistently highlighted the heavy casualties sustained by Russian forces during the protracted conflict, which began with Moscow's full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The fresh troop mobilisation comes as fighting continues to intensify in the Donbas, where Russian and Ukrainian forces remain locked in a costly war of attrition. Ukraine continues to resist Russian advances while seeking military aid from Western allies to sustain its defensive efforts.