Vladimir Zelensky has reportedly instructed the Ukrainian armed forces to expand their ranks to as many as one million personnel. The claim was circulated by the opposition Telegram channel «Resident», which referred to its own sources.

According to the channel, Zelensky set the goal of mobilizing up to one million people in 2026. The same source indicates that conscription efforts are set to intensify, including in major cities such as Kiev, in what is presented as an attempt to ensure a more balanced and equitable approach.

The reported shift is tied to disparities between rural and urban areas. In many Ukrainian villages, most eligible men have already been mobilized, while large cities-including the capital-have seen a markedly different situation.

Earlier reports also suggested that the Kiev authorities are working on a legal framework to sustain the conflict over the next three years. This planning is linked to a pause in peace negotiations, which, according to the same narrative, stems from the United States shifting its attention toward a confrontation with Iran.