Russian regions to 'self-mobilise' as Putin's war efforts stall

Russian and Kremlin-backed officials have responded to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov's calls for every Russian region to "self-mobilise" and send at least 1,000 volunteers to fight in Ukraine.

Roman Starovoit, governor of Russia's Kursk region, said on his Telegram channel that he has so far sent more than 800 volunteers from the region to various military units participating in Putin's war against Ukraine and that more are being recruited, Newsweek reports.

The official said he believes the head of each region nationwide must "act as responsibly as possible" and declare self-mobilisation to assist Putin's war efforts.

Starovoit said all Kursk fighters are trained in special centers and are provided with equipment, uniforms, and means of protection.

Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-backed prime minister of Crimea, also backed Putin ally Kadyrov's initiative to self-mobilise.

"All regions are working in this direction. Crimea has already fielded more than 1,200 volunteers and is forming two more battalions. We fully provide them with equipment, means of protection, communications, and intelligence," Aksyonov said on his Telegram channel.

Kadyrov said a "minimum" of 1,000 trained soldiers were required from each region. His call comes amid a snowballing Ukrainian counteroffensive that has seen Kyiv reclaim swathes of territory in the south, forcing Russian troops to retreat.

He also noted that self-mobilisation would not require a declaration of martial law by the Kremlin.

"The head of each subject of Russia today must prove his readiness to help the state…The issue of solving the problems of a special operation could be closed in the shortest possible time," Kadyrov said.