Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree ordering military training for reservists in 2026.
The decree, dated Dec. 8, says Russians in the reserve will be called up for training with the Armed Forces, the National Guard, emergency military units of the Emergency Situations Ministry, as well as state protection agencies and the FSB.
According to Meduza, which cited Russian state media, Putin instructed the government and regional authorities to ensure all steps for calling up reservists and organizing the training are completed.
Two of the four sections of the decree remain classified and marked “for official use only.”
Reservists are Russians who are in the reserve and have voluntarily signed contracts to join the mobilization reserve. As of 2021, Russia had about 100,000 reservists, according to official figures.
Under government rules, the president decides how many reservists will be called up, based on the army’s needs and proposals from the government.
Training periods cannot last longer than two months.
In October, the State Duma passed a law allowing reservists to be sent to “special training,” including missions to protect critical infrastructure. The measure is seen as another way to bring more people into military service without announcing a formal mobilization.
Winter training is unusual in Russia. Last year, Putin ordered training to begin in January for the first time in 20 years. In previous years, such decrees were usually issued between late February and early June.
Use of Reservists to Protect Critical Infrastructure
The new decree follows earlier steps expanding the military’s ability to use reservists. On Nov. 4, Putin signed another decree allowing reservists to be deployed to protect critical infrastructure across the country.
Six days later, the business newspaper Kommersant reported that at least 19 Russian regions had begun recruiting reservists into units tasked with guarding key facilities, a move linked to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The report said these reservists – primarily assigned to counter enemy drones – would receive the legal status of active-duty servicemembers during such assignments.
They can be called up during “special training sessions,” with procedures to be set by the government. Vice Adm. Vladimir Tsimlyansky, a senior official in Russia’s General Staff, said these reservists would not be sent to fight in Ukraine or deployed outside Russia.
However, the decree signed by Putin does not include any such restrictions.
Year-Round Conscription Law
Also on Nov. 4, Putin signed a separate law allowing Russia to conduct conscription year-round, from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, draft offices will be able to send out electronic summonses daily, schedule medical checks, and hold draft board meetings at any time of year.
The deadline for a conscript to report after receiving an electronic summons will be limited to 30 days from the moment it appears in the state registry.
Currently, such summonses have no expiration date. Actual deployments to military units will still take place twice a year – from April 1 to July 15 and from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31.
Winter training remains unusual in Russia. Last year, Putin ordered training to begin in January for the first time in two decades. In earlier years, similar decrees were typically issued between late February and early June.