--- title: "Ukraine claims Russia is conscripting more fighters for an offensive, breaking its own ceasefire" description: "Ukrainian intelligence officials say Russia wants to find 500,000 more fighters, and is going to target Russian cities for conscripts." date: "2023-01-08" modified: "2023-01-08" authors: - name: "Nicholas Slayton" job_title: "Contributing Editor" link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/nicholas-slayton/" url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/russia-additional-conscription/" categories: - "News" --- # Ukraine claims Russia is conscripting more fighters for an offensive, breaking its own ceasefire ![Russian draft]() *In this photo released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Jan. 22, 2022, servicemen of the engineer-sapper regiment take the military oath in the Voronezh Region, Russia. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via Associated Press)* Ukrainian military intelligence officials are warning that Russia is planning to mobilize another large number of soldiers for a spring offensive in the war. The claim comes as Kyiv also said Moscow violated its own Christmas ceasefire. Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine’s deputy military intelligence chief, claimed that Russia intends to bring up 500,000 more soldiers, starting Jan. 15. [The Guardian]() first reported the news. If so, it would be the largest build up since the war started. In September, Russia announced the “partial mobilization” of 300,000 reservists to fight in the war. In late October, Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu announced it had been completed Russia for its part has not officially announced any new mobilization or conscription. However it also denied plans to do a similar move before September. [**Subscribe to Task & Purpose Today**]()**. Get the latest military news, entertainment, and gear in your inbox daily.** The Ukrainian claims come after Ukraine reported attacks by Russia despite a ceasefire announced by the latter country for the Orthodox Christmas. The ceasefire was set to last 36 hours, starting on Friday, Jan. 6 for the religious holiday. Ukraine rejected the ceasefire, and despite the announcement by Russia, Russian forces shelled Ukrainian troops. Andriy Cherniak, another Ukrainian military intelligence official, [spoke to Politico]() on Saturday, Jan. 7, saying that Russia never stopped its conscription efforts and the new push will be done in major urban areas. “This time the Kremlin will mobilize residents of big cities, including the strategic industries centers all over Russia,” Cherniak said. “This will have a very negative impact on the already suffering Russian economy.” In the fall, Putin announced the call up of reservists for the “special military operation.” Of those, only 150,000 are engaged in Ukraine, according to Putin himself. In December he said the remainder are either deployed to the rear or still in training. The actual mobilization was something of a [debacle for Moscow](). Although Putin said the goal of 300,000 soldiers had been reached, the announcement of the mobilization prompted mass protests in major cities, as well as attacks on recruitment offices throughout the country. Prior to the official mobilization, there were reports that Russian officials were going to [homeless shelters]() in St. Petersburg to find recruits. Some of the new soldiers were sent out with [little equipment]() or training. In Belgorod, two trainees opened fire on other Russians, [killing 11 people](). Meanwhile Russian [convicts]() are also being recruited through the Kremlin-linked private military contracting firm the Wagner Group, which is currently leading the push to take the city of Bakhmut from Ukrainian defenders. ## The latest on Task & Purpose - **This is what happens when Navy pilots** [**land on the wrong aircraft carrier**]() - **Air Force special ops vet Dan Schilling** [**wrote a rock epic**]() **about the experience of war** - **How airmen** [**overcame -77 degree weather, frostnip**]() **to fix a C-130 in Antarctica** - **Why** [**Navy ships make their first deck log**]() **of the New Year rhyme** - **The complicated truth about the famous** [**‘Christmas Truce’ of World War I**]() **Want to write for Task & Purpose?**[ **Click here**]()**.** ## Author Nicholas Slayton is a contributing editor for Task & Purpose, covering conflict for over 12 years, from the Arab Spring to the war in Ukraine. His previous reporting can be found on the non-profit Aslan Media, The Atlantic, Al Jazeera, The New Republic, The American Prospect, Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, and the Los Angeles Downtown News. You can reach him at nicholas@taskandpurpose.com or find him on Twitter @NSlayton and Bluesky at @nslayton.bsky.social. ### Author social links [Twitter]()