The Wall Street Journal reports Russian officers flew from St. Petersburg to the Kaliningrad exclave last month to supervise local mobilization preparations, including procedures for housing, supplying and arming mobilized personnel, Western intelligence officials said. They said the Kaliningrad exercise is one of several nationwide drills intended to prepare for an "order to conscript." Officials say the Kremlin has not decided whether to carry out a broader mobilization and may wait until afte

2026-08-23

The Wall Street Journal reports Russian officers flew from St. Petersburg to the Kaliningrad exclave last month to supervise local mobilization preparations, including procedures for housing, supplying and arming mobilized personnel, Western intelligence officials said. They said the Kaliningrad exercise is one of several nationwide drills intended to prepare for an "order to conscript." Officials say the Kremlin has not decided whether to carry out a broader mobilization and may wait until after late-September parliamentary elections, but Western intelligence warned Putin's determination to seize the remainder of Donbas could force action.