On January 22, 2024, russian authorities reported there had been 220 attacks on military enlistment offices since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Other statistics from media outlet Mediazona reported 113 attacks on enlistment offices recorded since July 26, 2023. Taken together, these statistics indicate a doubling of arson attacks on enlistment offices over the last six months, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
Russian Foreign Intelligence Service Director Sergey Naryshkin accuses those responsible for the arson attacks of acting at the behest of Western officials. However, the increase in attacks is highly likely due to a greater sense of disaffection with the war amongst the russian population and especially those who would be mobilized should a second wave of mobilization be announced. Some of those accused of perpetrating such attacks have been charged with terrorism and treason.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence Reveals a Notable Reduction in Armoured Vehicle Attrition Rates in 2023
Further mobilization would be a contradiction to Putin’s promise at his December 14, 2023 annual news conference that there would be no further mobilization – the attacks highly likely suggest a lack of confidence in this promise.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence: russia Continues Offensive in the East of Ukraine, Focuses on Avdiivka
