Peskov dismisses rumors of a new Russian mobilization wave as a hoax

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed rumors of a new mobilization wave in Russia as an "information canard" during an RTVI interview. Peskov accused Ukraine of deliberately planting these rumors in the media. This denial of a draft coincided with Russia's partial mobilization in September 2022. Peskov stated, "At the moment, no, that’s not on the agenda," when asked about potential full or partial mobilization.

A Moscow Times report on August 24 revealed complaints from residents in over 17 Russian regions about being detained and forcefully mobilized over the past month and a half, suggesting a growing trend of covert mobilization. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously warned on August 8 that Putin was seeking covert mobilization methods without formal calls.

He further claimed on August 11 that Russia was preparing an autumn mobilization campaign, possibly following parliamentary elections, based on information from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence. Zelenskyy reiterated these concerns on August 23, stating Russia might launch a new mobilization wave after the state Duma elections, potentially enlisting an additional 300,000 people in 2026.