Support The Moscow Times!

Russian Military Says 'No Plans' for New Mobilization

Russian draftees in Moscow. Mikhail Metzel / TASS

The Russian military will not mobilize reserves as it gears up for an annual call-up of young men for compulsory military service, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Friday.

“There are no plans for additional mobilization measures,” deputy head of the military’s mobilization department, Rear Admiral Vladimir Tsimlyansky, said in a briefing.  

The fall military call-up will begin as scheduled on Oct. 1 and no conscripts will be sent to fight in Ukraine during their 12-month training period, he added.

Russia enlisted 147,000 men during this year’s spring call-up.

Tsimlyansky's remarks come amid growing speculation that Russia’s Armed Forces may seek to plug manpower shortages in Ukraine by launching a second wave of mobilization.

A “partial” mobilization in September 2022 saw the recruitment of some 300,000 men as well as a mass exodus from the country of Russians who sought to avoid military service. 

Since then, Russia has carried out a volunteer recruitment campaign to attract more men into the military as the war in Ukraine enters its 19th month. 

Tsimlyansky on Friday reported a “significant increase” of Russians who have voluntarily signed contracts with the Armed Forces.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysiss 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

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
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more