Russian President Vladimir Putin has again dismissed reports that Russia is preparing a new military mobilization, calling the rumors an “information attack” aimed at disrupting upcoming State Duma elections.
“There is no scenario today that would require mobilization,” Putin said Thursday at the Eastern Economic Forum. “This is simply a planned information operation.”
The latest denial came a day after Putin called reports of a possible mobilization following the elections “nonsense” and an “information attack.”
Putin has insisted that Russia has no need for a new mass call-up, claiming that Russians continue to join the military “voluntarily” by signing contracts with the Defense Ministry.
He also claimed Russia has “no problems” recruiting troops for the front, while alleging that Ukraine’s armed forces are shrinking by 8,000 to 12,000 personnel each month. He provided no evidence for the figure.
Despite Putin’s repeated denials, speculation about a new mobilization has intensified since the summer.
Russian pro-war Z-channels reported in July that a potential forced call-up could involve as many as 1.2 million people. Western intelligence agencies have separately assessed that Russia is preparing military infrastructure to receive and equip additional recruits.
Ukraine says Russia is preparing for 600,000 more troops
Ukrainian intelligence also claimed that Russia is preparing for a major new mobilization wave in 2026-2027, potentially involving 600,000 people.
According to Ukrainian intelligence data cited by the Office of the President of Ukraine, Russian authorities are planning to recruit 300,000 people this year and another 300,000 next year.
Ukraine says the plans are being driven by Russia’s loss of initiative on the battlefield, rising personnel losses and a significant slowdown in contract recruitment across Russian regions.
Russian forces suffered around 240,000 personnel losses between January and July 2026, according to Ukrainian figures, including at least 140,000 irrecoverable losses. During the same period, around 232,000 people were recruited under contract.
Ukraine’s military intelligence service also says Russia has expanded the categories of convicted prisoners eligible for military service, including people with outstanding or unexpunged convictions for serious crimes.
Western estimates indicate that Russia is now recruiting roughly 6,000 fewer troops each month than it loses on the battlefield. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia’s total military losses, including killed and wounded, exceeded 40,000 in August for the second consecutive month.
A new mobilization may also not require a new presidential decree. The decree issued in 2022 that authorized the mobilization of 300,000 Russians remains in force, according to sources cited by The Economist.
The outlet’s Kremlin-linked sources said Putin could instead avoid a formal mobilization announcement and pressure Russian regions to recruit another 300,000 to 400,000 contract soldiers.
Russia has relied heavily on contract recruitment and large financial incentives to replenish its forces since Putin ordered a “partial mobilization” of 300,000 reservists in September 2022.
According to The Economist’s sources, Putin remains unwilling to end Russia’s war against Ukraine without achieving his stated goal of fully capturing the Donbas.