‘Complete Nonsense’: Putin Dismisses Mobilization Rumors

Sep. 2, 2026 Vladimir Putin. Sputnik / Vyacheslav Prokofyev / Pool via REUTERS President Vladimir Putin has dismissed growing speculation that he plans to announce a new round of military mobilization following State Duma and regional elections later this month. “It’s complete nonsense. It’s an information attack on Russia,” Putin told reporters late on Tuesday in his first remarks on the rumors. As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has stalled in its fifth year, questions are once again mounting over whether Putin could resort to a politically costly mobilization to boost his military’s manpower. The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected reports of an impending draft, characterizing them as a foreign disinformation campaign. Last week, Ukrainian intelligence agencies warned that Russia was “drawing up plans” to mobilize 600,000 men this year and in 2027. Putin declared a “partial” mobilization of 300,000 reservists in September 2022, a move that was similarly dismissed just days before it was announced. That call-up triggered a mass exodus of draft-eligible men from Russia. Since then, the Kremlin has gradually made legal changes that some observers view as preparations for a fresh wave of mobilization. The Russian military has moved to a digital draft registry with automatic travel bans, shifted to year-round draft processing, and now allows reservists to be deployed to guard “critical infrastructure” without being formally called up to serve. However, some experts caution that another mass mobilization would encounter logistical hurdles and fail to address challenges on the front line. At the same time, observers point to the fact that Putin’s “partial” mobilization order remains in effect, suggesting Putin might not need to formally announce a new draft. Read more about: Mobilization , Putin , Russian military Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Putin Says Russia Successfully Tested Burevestnik Nuclear-Powered Missile Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov told Putin the test took place Tuesday, with the missile flying 8,700 miles over 15 hours. 2 Min read Putin Visits Military HQ Overseeing Ukraine War Operations It was the Russian leader's second visit to the military command center in the past month. 1 Min read Putin Forms Mobilization Task Force Featuring Military Bloggers President Vladimir Putin established a task force Tuesday to coordinate work between the government and pro-war military bloggers on Russia&rsquo... Putin Meets With Carefully Selected Group of Soldiers' Mothers Ahead of Mother’s Day celebrations in Russia on Sunday, President Vladimir Putin met with the mothers of soldiers recently called up to serve in...