Defense & Security

Kremlin Once Again Denies Plans for New Mobilization

Peskov stated that the authorities do not intend to conduct a draft before the end of the year, following a Bloomberg report on a potential "covert mobilization."

EurasianPost

Sep 18, 2026 - 20:29

Updated: 28 days ago

0 3

Kremlin Once Again Denies Plans for New Mobilization

Peskov stated that the authorities do not intend to conduct a draft before the end of the year, following a Bloomberg report on a potential "covert mobilization."

Russian authorities have no plans to mobilize 300,000 people into the army by the end of 2026, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated. As reported by Reuters, Peskov was responding to a Bloomberg report alleging that a new large-scale mobilization could begin in Russia following the State Duma elections.

"No. There are no such plans," Peskov said.

Citing a European security official, Bloomberg reported that Russia is allegedly preparing to draft an additional 300,000 people before the end of the year. The agency noted that this time, the mobilization might not be accompanied by an official announcement. According to Bloomberg, in recent months, some Kremlin officials and military recruitment office staff have allegedly been advising relatives and acquaintances to leave the country.

The report also claimed that some Russian officials fear the consequences of staff cuts of up to 15% across public sector organizations in regional areas, suggesting that dismissed workers could end up among potential draftees. At the same time, Bloomberg cited European government officials who noted that there are currently no signs of the Kremlin preparing for such a move.

Russian authorities have repeatedly denied reports regarding preparations for a new mobilization. In early September, Vladimir Putin called reports of a potential draft following the elections "complete nonsense" and an "information attack against Russia," adding that there are currently no scenarios that would require mobilization.

In late August, Peskov also dismissed reports of a second mobilization wave as "canards," claiming they were deliberately spread by Ukrainian authorities. On the first day of voting, Central Election Commission chief Ella Pamfilova separately confirmed that no mobilization was planned, addressing false rumors circulating in Buryatia about men voting at military enlistment offices.