Putin mobilization

The military commissioner of Russia’s Penza Oblast, Andrei Surkov, said law enforcement officers are conducting raids on residents of the region, Russian media reported. He said the operations are carried out regularly to detain people accused of evading military service.

Despite reports from Russian outlet Meduza that the Russian elite is allegedly disappointed with the Kremlin’s inability to end the war against Ukraine in 2024, Russia’s security and military factions appear to be pushing for an escalation rather than seeking a negotiated resolution. This conclusion, based on insights published by Meduza on Jan. 9, comes from analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).