Facing mounting losses and a decline in voluntary recruitment in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly considering mandatory conscription to bolster his forces. The Russian military's offensive capabilities are hampered by the suspension of Elon Musk's Starlink technology and increasing Ukrainian counter-attacks. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggests a new law passed on Wednesday, February 18th, empowers authorities to pursue Russians who criticize mandatory reserve call-ups, aiming to make evading service "socially unacceptable." This move comes as Russia struggles to replace an estimated 9,000 soldiers lost in January 2026, according to Bloomberg, and as between 450,000 and 600,000 Russian soldiers are currently deployed in Ukraine.