Putin denies plan for new Russian military call up

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed reports of another military draft, describing them as Ukrainian disinformation. Last year, Putin ordered a partial mobilisation of reservists in 2022 amid setbacks in the Ukraine conflict, affecting around 300,000 people out of Russia's population of 140 million. This order was unpopular and led to a mass exodus of draft-age men from the country.

The Kremlin has repeatedly denied future mobilisation plans, stating that no scenario exists today requiring such action. Putin emphasized that Russian people enlist voluntarily and sign a contract. Kyiv had previously indicated that Russia might prepare for a new mobilisation wave in the autumn, citing heavy losses. However, Russia's battlefield advances have slowed this year due to the increased difficulty of large-scale troop movements caused by widespread drone use.

The Institute for the Study of War, a US-based think tank, suggested in July that Moscow was setting the conditions for another mobilisation, citing recently passed legislation allowing the army to recruit more types of convicts in wartime. Ultimately, mobilisation remains a personal decision for Putin and depends on his perception of the battlefield situation and the Kremlin's stability.