WSJ: Russian military held drills to prepare for mobilization

Military exercises involving mobilization procedures were conducted in Russia's Kaliningrad region in July, according to The Wall Street Journal's report, citing Western intelligence officials. These drills aimed to assess the military's readiness for mobilization measures, such as accommodating and supplying provisions and weapons to mobilized personnel.

Western intelligence officials indicated that similar exercises are taking place in other Russian regions, although specific locations were not disclosed. The purpose of these drills is to prepare for a potential new wave of mobilization, though no such decision has been finalized. Sources suggest that mobilization announcements are unlikely before the September parliamentary elections.

Experts interviewed by the newspaper are uncertain about the practical impact of a fall mobilization, as winter typically brings a slowdown in fighting due to harsh weather conditions. However, military analyst Michael Kofman suggested that a new wave of mobilization could influence the front by as early as 2027. Since late June, sources have reported to Meduza and other outlets the possibility of a new mobilization wave, which is expected to be announced after the September elections.

Russian authorities officially deny any plans for a new mobilization wave, a stance they maintained before the mobilization in September 2022, when no official decree ended it. Rumors of a new mobilization wave emerged in August, leading the human rights organization Kovcheg to record a significant increase in inquiries about emigrating from Russia.

Meduza adheres to transparency regarding its use of artificial intelligence in journalism, stating that the story was written by a human journalist and translated using an AI model that follows strict editorial standards.