Based on the timing of training of mobilised soldiers, the Russian army may launch a new wave of offensive in the war against Ukraine in February 2023, Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has said in an interview with The Guardian.
Referring to Russia’s partial mobilisation of about 300,000 soldiers, Reznikov suggested that while half – often after receiving minimal training – were being used to reinforce Moscow’s forces after a series of battlefield setbacks, the remainder were being prepared more thoroughly for future offensives.
"The second part of the mobilisation, 150,000 approximately, started their training courses in different camps," said Reznikov, speaking of Russia's mobilisation drive, which started in October.
"The [draftees] do a minimum of three months to prepare. It means they are trying to start the next wave of the offensive probably in February, like last year. That’s their plan." According to the defence minister, Russia is likely to continue mobilising its citizens in the future.
"After all, the main tactic of the occupiers is a 'meat grinder', whereby they throw as many bodies at a battle as possible in the hope they will overwhelm the smaller Ukrainian force," he said.
Earlier, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhnyy said that the reserve of the Russian army is 1.2-1.5 million people. Currently, Russians are training about 200,000 new soldiers. It is likely that Russia will launch a major new offensive from Donbas in the east, from the south or from Belarus.