Russia Wants to Mobilize Half a Million Men. Here’s What You Need to Know.

Everybody knows about Vladimir Putin's big red button , the one that he absolutely must not press or else he might end the world . But right next to the nuclear launch switch on Vladimir Putin's desk , there's another red button that Putin's been very nervous to activate . On the one hand, if he does, , then Russia might win the war in Ukraine , sweeping in from all directions and finally crushing Kiev under Putin's boots . On the other hand, ins , instead of destroying Ukraine , there's a very good chance that this big red button will destroy Russia . It'll turn the country's elite against Putin for good , prompt a massive public revolt and ensure that Putin ends his presidency or possibly even his life by going the same way as the SAR of old . Press that big red button and Vladimir Putin triggers a societywide mobilization authorizing the forced conscription of some half a million men or even more . It's a nuclear option that Putin's avoided thus far because the risks of a potential failure are so incomprehensibly high , but Western onlookers have suspected , and Ukrainian , and Ukrainian , and Ukrainian intelligence now claims