Putin denies plan for new Russian military call up

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed rumors of a fresh military draft, stating there is no present need for it. Putin made the remarks on Thursday during a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, describing speculation about another mobilisation as Ukrainian disinformation. The Kremlin has previously denied plans for another call-up, insisting that the one in 2022, which involved 300,000 reservists out of a population of 140 million, was highly unpopular and led to an exodus of draft-age men from Russia.

Putin emphasized that enlistment in the Russian military remains voluntary and that all members sign a contract. He also pointed out that Kyiv's allegations of Moscow preparing for a new wave of mobilisation in the autumn appear to be part of a disinformation campaign aimed at influencing the upcoming Russian parliamentary elections.

The Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, reported in July that Russia may be setting conditions for a potential mobilisation, citing recently passed legislation allowing the army to recruit more types of convicts in wartime. However, the battlefield advances of Russian forces have slowed considerably this year due to widespread drone use, making swift, large-scale troop movements more challenging.