UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 74 - MAY 3, 2022

Ukrainian officials reported with increasing confidence that the Kremlin will announce mobilization on May 9. The head of the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Service, Kyrylo Budanov, stated on May 2 that the Kremlin had begun mobilization processes and personnel in preparation for the announcement expected on May 9 and had already conducted a covert mobilization. The Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council stated that senior Russian officials were trying to legitimize a longer war effort as a Third World War against the West and not as a "special military operation" against Ukraine, as Russian President Vladimir Putin had referred to the Russian invasion so far. However, ISW has no independent confirmation of Russian mobilization preparations.

The full Russian Offensive Update 73 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

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