Kathrine Frich
Yet Ukrainian intelligence agencies warned last week that Russian officials were actively drawing up plans.
When a major conflict stretches across several long years, rumors about who might be called to the front lines spread like wildfire.
Families whisper, young men check their phones, and upcoming political events carry a quiet sense of dread.
The uncertainty alone can shake an entire nation long before any official order is ever signed.
Dismissing the claims
Russian President Vladimir Putin has forcefully pushed back against growing speculation that a brand new wave of military draft is right around the corner.
Rumors had been circulating across social media that Moscow planned to announce a fresh call-up shortly after regional and parliamentary elections later this month. Speaking to reporters late on Tuesday, the Russian leader brushed those widespread reports aside entirely.
According to a report by The Moscow Times, Putin rejected the claims in very sharp terms. “It’s complete nonsense. It’s an information attack on Russia,” he stated during his first direct response to the rumors.
The Kremlin has routinely dismissed draft reports as part of a deliberate foreign disinformation campaign designed to cause public panic.
Yet Ukrainian intelligence agencies warned last week that Russian officials were actively drawing up plans to mobilize 600,000 men across this year and into 2027.
Shadow of the past
Public anxiety across the country is deeply rooted in recent memory. Back in September 2022, officials announced a “partial” draft of 300,000 reservists after flatly denying similar plans just days beforehand.
That sudden decision triggered a chaotic mass exodus of military-age men, who rushed to cross international borders to avoid being sent into battle.
Now, as the full-scale invasion drags through its fifth year, military commanders continue to face ongoing manpower shortages along a heavily stalled front line.
Some defense experts caution that another massive wave of mobilization would encounter severe logistical hurdles. They argue it might fail to solve the core tactical challenges currently facing troops on the ground.
Quiet legal changes
Even without a high-profile public announcement, quiet legal updates have steadily laid the groundwork for future call-ups.
Russian authorities have introduced a centralized digital draft system that automatically triggers immediate travel bans for anyone who receives a summons.
Officials have also shifted to processing draftees year-round while allowing reservists to guard “critical infrastructure” without being formally called up to serve.
On top of those administrative changes, military analysts point out that the original 2022 draft decree was never officially revoked by the Kremlin. That detail suggests commanders might not even need a fresh public decree to bring thousands more troops onto the battlefield.
Sources: The Moscow Times, Reuters, Sputnik
