Russia could change rhetoric after parliament elections, Zelenskyy says
Photo: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
On the eve of the State Duma elections, Russia is trying to project a sense of calm domestically while denying that it is preparing for mobilization. At the same time, Moscow is intensifying its airstrikes on Ukraine to demonstrate its supposed strength to the Russian public, but a shift in rhetoric may follow, according to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Following the conclusion of the elections in Russia, Ukraine anticipates new developments, including the possible mobilization of at least 300,000 Russian troops.
He notes that Russia's infrastructure is already prepared for such a mobilization, though the format, whether covert or overt, remains unknown.
"Russia will now claim that there is no mobilization," the President says, explaining that this is necessary to reassure the public ahead of the elections.
At the same time, Zelenskyy states that Russia is not achieving the desired results on the battlefield, so it is trying to compensate for this with intensive airstrikes.
The President also accuses the Russian side of spreading false information about the situation on the front lines.
In particular, he says, Russia recently claimed to have occupied Sviatohirsk, but the Ukrainian military demonstrated that it controls the city. Similarly, Zelenskyy calls Russian claims about the distance to Sumy an absolute lie.
According to the President of Ukraine, Russia will continue this tactic throughout the State Duma elections in late September.
"Across Ukraine, they are carrying out constant, intense strikes as if they were strong. That's roughly how things will unfold during these elections in late September; once the elections are over, we'll see a new dynamic in their rhetoric," Zelenskyy concludes.
On September 1, Vladimir Putin announced the alleged capture of Svyatogorsk by Russian troops.
Ukrainian authorities and military officials have denied this claim. On September 7, Andrii Biletskyi, commander of the 3rd Army Corps, recorded a video from the city center and stated that Sviatohirsk is fully under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
In addition, since late August, the Russians have intensified their aerial attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region. Russia took a break from striking Kyiv only during the visit to Kyiv by American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. After their departure, the Russians resumed their attacks on Kyiv. Today alone, at least 3 people have been reported killed and 19 injured in the city.
