While Russia is unlikely to declare a full mobilization in the short term, it will likely need to deploy more soldiers to continue waging its war in Ukraine. This means that Moscow will likely mobilize at least some reinforcements, which could indefinitely prolong the conflict -- exposing Russia to more economic problems and pressure from the West. As Russia's offensive in eastern Ukraine grinds on, military analysts increasingly believe the offensive capability of Russian forces in Ukraine will be largely exhausted in the coming weeks, regardless of whether they secure the entire administrative borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Russian troops now find themselves outnumbered in Ukraine after losing roughly 15,000 soldiers since the beginning of the war. As Kyiv raises, trains and moves territorial defense battalions to the frontlines, Russian forces will thus first and foremost need more manpower to conduct a new offensive operation, in addition to...
