Moscow (AFP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed Thursday that Russia does not currently need to call up more men to participate in the war on Ukraine, describing speculation about a new military call-up as "misinformation" from the Ukrainian side.
Published on: 09/03/2026 - 14:03
Putin last ordered a "partial mobilization" of reserve elements in 2022, following a series of military defeats suffered by Russian forces in Ukraine.
This decision, which the Kremlin said applied to only 300,000 people out of about 140 million, met with widespread popular dissatisfaction, and prompted large numbers of men of military age to leave the country.
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied any new recall plans.
"There is no scenario today that calls for mobilization," Putin said at a plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.
"It is a disinformation campaign by the enemy ahead of the Duma elections, aimed at influencing their results," he added, referring to the Russian parliamentary elections scheduled to be held later this month.
He said, "As is known, our people volunteer and sign a contract." Kyiv did not respond to Putin's statements.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in July that Moscow was preparing for a “new wave of mobilization in the fall,” after suffering heavy losses in the war.
© 2026 AFP
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