Commentary by Russian military journalist Boris Rozhin:
[ColonelCassad] 1. Putin today signed a law expanding the age range of conscription from 18 to 30 years. Proposals to make a frame 21 - 30 years old were rejected when considered in the State Duma.
2. The State Duma calls for tougher penalties for evading mobilization and conscription, up to a prison term, taking into account the experience of conducting partial mobilization in 2022. It is proposed to give up to 5 years of real term.
3. The number of contract soldiers recruited since January 2023 has already exceeded 231,000 people. In the future, the recruitment of contractors will be further intensified. Including large salaries (from 204 thousand, not counting other payments and regional bonuses like additional lifting - from 150,000 to 300,000 or land).
4. The level of solving the problems mobilized by the beginning of August is about 49% according to official statistics. That is, about half of the problems that arise are solved. Not much, although there is progress, of course.
4. At the same time, General Kartapolov said that now there is no smell of new mobilization. But at the same time, he also stated that the presence of armor from mobilization is a relative thing. It will be necessary, they will call with armor, as in the Great Patriotic War. This is apparently in case the NWO is officially reclassified as a war.
Regardless of whether a new partial mobilization is announced in the fall or not, the course to increase the size of the armed forces in the coming years seems clear. The question is more about how they will increase the size of the army, since in addition to the needs of the Northern Military District, it is also necessary to form new armies and corps for the western and northwestern directions, as well as build up the capabilities of the Moscow and Leningrad military districts.
I think by mid-autumn the situation will be solidified.