Ukraine assumes that almost 60,000 Russian soldiers have died: the first freshly drafted recruits have already fallen at the front. A Moscow poll shows that half of Russians are horrified by the mobilization. Finland closes its borders against the mass exodus of conscripts. The 218th day of the war at a glance.
Survey: Only 23 percent are "proud of Russia"
According to a survey, almost every second Russian reacted with shock to the partial mobilization ordered by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. A total of 47 percent of those surveyed described their feelings after Putin's speech a week ago as "fear, fear, horror," according to results from the independent polling institute Levada. On the other hand, 23 percent stated that they were "proud of Russia". That's a drop of nearly 10 percent since the February 24 attack. Western experts consider the polls by the independent Levada Institute to be comparatively authentic.
"Professional boxers against schoolboys": First recruits probably like it
The Ukrainian government assumes that dozens of newly drafted Russians have been killed in recent days. This is what Presidential Advisor Oleksiy Arestowitsch says of the "Bild" newspaper. He expects that Russian President Vladimir Putin will use his newly mobilized soldiers in the occupied territories. "But we will win this fight. Destroying these mobilized forces will not be difficult for us." When asked how many of the 300,000 new Russian soldiers were trained and would survive, Arestovich said, "None. They are poorly equipped, lack medicine and are armed with rusty rifles. They have no training at all. They don't even have a bad one Education, they just don't have any education - it's awful. It's like a pro boxer fighting a schoolboy."
According to Ukrainian data, Russia has lost 58,580 soldiers since the beginning of its war of aggression. According to the General Staff in Kyiv, 430 are said to have died in the past 24 hours alone. In addition, 2,325 Russian tanks, 4,909 armored combat vehicles, 1,385 artillery systems, 262 aircraft and 995 drones, among others, are said to have been destroyed since February 24.
Moscow withdraws ground troops from Baltic borders
To make up for its losses in Ukraine, it withdrew up to 80 percent of its troops from bases on the borders with the Baltic States and Finland. This was reported by Foreign Policy magazine, citing a defense official who wished to remain anonymous. "The withdrawal we have witnessed from this region over the past seven months is very significant," the official said. "For decades, Russia had a ground force position that has now practically disappeared." In addition to troops, Russia is also transferring other high-value military equipment, including anti-aircraft systems and missiles, from the region to Ukraine. Satellite images had previously confirmed that some S-300 anti-aircraft systems had been withdrawn from a protective ring around St. Petersburg, near the Finnish border.
Exodus of young Russians continues: Finland closes the border
The Russian partial mobilization is still not going according to plan. Since Putin's announcement, there has been a significant exodus of Russians seeking to evade conscription. As reported by the British Ministry of Defense, the exact numbers, while unclear, are likely to exceed the size of the entire invasion force that Russia deployed in February 2022. The ministry's conclusion: "Together with the reservists who are being mobilized, the effects of the reduced availability of labor and the accelerated brain drain on the Russian economy are likely to become increasingly important."
Finland closes its border to Russian tourists at midnight. Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto explained that the events surrounding the Nord Stream leaks and the mock referendums in Ukraine had accelerated the government's decision. Finland is thus following the visa regulation for Russians decided by Poland and the three Baltic countries Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia at the beginning of September. Thus, for all five EU countries bordering Russia, there is an entry ban for Russians with tourist visas for the Schengen area. The Schengen area includes 22 EU countries as well as Switzerland and three other countries.
Lithuania's ex-head of state warns against asylum for conscientious objectors
Lithuania's former leader Vytautas Landsbergis warned that Russians fleeing mobilization abroad could potentially be used to destabilize their host countries. "Now they are fleeing to a safer place, but the question is whether this mass exodus is not also planned and another ugly weapon," he said. Accordingly, the Kremlin could "use them for some referenda, votes to ask Uncle Putin for help," said the 89-year-old, who headed the Baltic EU country after Lithuania regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1990.
Fourth Nord Stream leak: Investigators suspect 500-kilo explosive devices
After the discovery of a fourth leak in the Nord Stream pipeline in the Baltic Sea, investigators are assuming, according to information from "Spiegel", that explosive devices are responsible. Bombs with an effect comparable to that of 500 kilograms of TNT would have had to have been used to destroy the tubes. The estimates suggest a state actor must be responsible for the leaks, the magazine wrote. The West holds Russia responsible for the acts of sabotage, but there is no evidence.
Kremlin: Stupid to suspect Russia
Moscow also assumes sabotage. "Of course, it is very difficult to imagine that such a terrorist act could have taken place without the involvement of a state," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. However, it is "stupid" to believe that Russia is behind it.
Moscow wants to complete the annexation tomorrow
After the illegal referendums, Putin wants to make the annexation of several Ukrainian territories official as early as tomorrow, Friday. "A ceremony to sign agreements on the accession of new territories to the Russian Federation will be held at 3 p.m. in the Grand Kremlin Palace," Peskov said, according to the Interfax agency. The step is not recognized internationally.
The National Security Council then meets in Ukraine. "President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urgently convenes a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine tomorrow," Presidential Spokesman Serhiy Nykyforov said on Facebook.
"Putin will appear in court"
Ukrainian human rights activist Olexandra Matviychuk believes Putin will one day stand trial for war crimes. "I have no doubt that he will," she said in an online conversation with journalists after she and other laureates were awarded the Alternative Nobel Prize. "Many authoritarian leaders in the world think they are untouchable. But history has shown that authoritarian regimes have collapsed and sooner or later their leaders have appeared in court cases."
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