If Putin wants war so badly that he has now resorted to yet another political manipulation with his sham elections, to the point that he was afraid to allow even a single party that said at least something about the need for peace on the ballot – and removed the Yabloko party – then his priorities are crystal clear.

Putin’s plan is not particularly complicated. He wants to create the impression that Russians support the war – every party still permitted to run is against peace. And then, after the so-called elections, he plans an additional rapid mobilization of several hundred thousand Russians by the end of the year, plus just as many more next year. This will be on top of the recruitment they are trying to carry out through contract enlistment.