Russia could soon announce mass conscription and draft up to 700,000 soldiers, Ukraine\u2019s General Staff says. Russia has turned into a dictatorship, PACE concludes. A poll finds two-thirds of Ukrainians say that President Zelenskyi is responsible for corruption in the government and regional military administrations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russia plans to soon draft between 400,000 and 700,000 soldiers in Russia and the occupied territories in Ukraine, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a morning report on September 11.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSome related documents have been posted to the Internet. This time, [Russia] plans to also draft around 40,000 soldiers from Chechnya to deploy them as \u2018barrier troops,\u2019\u201d the statement reads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Russian authorities plan to once again call up a minimum of soldiers from Moscow and St. Petersburg, Ukraine\u2019s General Staff added. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOrdinary citizens, residents of the Russian regions will be once again sent to the frontlines as \u2018cannon fodder\u2019. Kadyrov\u2019s death squads will push them in the back. The only way for Russian troops to survive is to surrender,\u201d the report says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a comment to RBC Ukraine, representative of the Main Intelligence Department of Ukraine\u2019s Defense Ministry, Major General Vadym Skibitskyi said that the Kremlin has continued secret conscription and has drafted between 90,000 and 100,000 soldiers this year. Yet a massive conscription could be avoided, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWill they openly announce conscription, like last autumn? Probably not. They\u2019ve had the elections now, and will begin to prepare for the presidential elections to be held on March 17, 2024. No one wants to take risks ahead of campaigning after announcing conscription. It could possibly happen later,\u201d Skibitskyi said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) raised concerns over legitimacy and legality of amendments to the Russian Constitution made in July 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These amendments, including the removal of presidential term limits, have allowed President Vladimir Putin to remain in office until 2036, when he will be 83 years old, PACE said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe overwhelming power of the President resulting from the extremely long term in office combined with the lack of any checks and balances such as a strong parliament, an independent judiciary, free media and a vibrant civil society has turned the Russian Federation into a de facto dictatorship,\u201d the parliamentarians said,\u201d the MPs said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unanimously approving a draft resolution, the committee recalled the findings of the Council of Europe Venice Commission that \u201ca term limit waiver for the incumbent President violates both the Russian constitution and international legal principles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Russian aggression against Ukraine and its aftermath demonstrate that dictatorships \u201cconstitute a threat to the international peace and security and to the territorial integrity and political independence of their neighbors.\u201d \u201cIt is therefore in the interest first and foremost of the people of Russia, but also of Europe and the whole world that democracy be restored in Russia,\u201d the committee concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KMIS) commented on the results of its opinion poll that saw 78 per cent of Ukrainians saying President Zelenskyi is responsible for corruption in the government and regional military administrations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ukrainian President got a record-high approval rating, the pollster said. \u201cResponsibility\u201d does not equal \u201ccomplicity\u201d, it added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhen interpreting the results, many equated \u2018responsibility\u2019 with \u2018complicity\u2019, but it\u2019s not like that,\u201d KMIS said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The poll also shows that Ukrainians want a strong leader willing to take decisive action. At the same time, the public demands anti-corruption measures, the survey finds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The polling results reflect popular expectations of the president to act decisively against corruption, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology explains. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Zelenskyi\u2019s job approval rating stands at 80-85 per cent. Only one-quarter of Ukrainians want a different President after Ukraine wins the war of aggression against Russia. The call on the President to fight against corruption does not undermine his support. The President\u2019s approval rating could change in the long term, KMIS said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A majority of Ukrainians perceive corruption as widespread. The share of Ukrainians who believe that corruption is \u201cvery widespread\u201d has declined from 63 per cent in 2021 to 43 per cent in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the same time, the share of Ukrainians who say that the government fights corruption \u201csomewhat effectively\u201d grew from 25 per cent in 2021 to 50 per cent in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n