Putin Prepares Russians For New Mobilization

Analysts told why they are bringing in reservists and blocking Telegram.

The Russian Federation's armed forces will receive a new wave of mobilized Russians as the Kremlin has tightened accountability for absconding from service and further restricted the messenger Telegram, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote.

What do the Russian authorities's new plans say about the further development of the Russian-Ukrainian warfare - are we talking about an offensive or battles of attrition?

To get replenishment for the army, Russia has introduced a year-round draft of reservists, which is covered up by "military training camps," analysts told the ISW report. In parallel, in addition to punishment for avoiding service, they are closing information about the real state of the front, which is spread through Telegram.

Analysts investigated the activity of the Russian authorities, who are planning a new mobilization, but hide the plans behind various initiatives in order not to alarm Russian citizens in advance. They highlighted several main activities. The very first is the creation of "information conditions." The Russian State Duma passed a bill on responsibility for evading service to the fatherland. In addition, Telegram is likely to be blocked or slowed down starting April 1, as the messenger is spreading stories about the war in Ukraine that are unfavorable for Moscow. According to the Institute, in this way Russian President Vladimir Putin will "gradually legalize" the idea of a new, "limited and gradual" mobilization in order to be able to maintain the size of the Russian army, which is suffering tangible losses in the war in Ukraine. At the same time, the analysts do not see this as a build-up of forces - it is only about support.

"Not for a significant build-up of the grouping of Russian troops fighting in Ukraine and overfilling the front with additional forces," the analysts wrote.

The next measures aimed at strengthening the Russian Armed Forces concern reservists. Since October 2025, Russian authorities have adopted a series of regulations regarding citizens who have military training thanks to compulsory service but are in the reserves. Recently, they will be called up for military training all year round, and the number of conscripts is not limited in any way. In addition, the duty stations of reservists have been changed. According to the adopted laws, they will be used in "missions outside the Russian Federation," perform special tasks in conflict zones, and be called up for "training camps" in arbitrary units - in the army as such, in the Rosgvardia, and in the FSB.

"ISW assessed that this decree is likely to allow the Kremlin to secretly call up members of its strategic reserve. Russia is likely preparing to try to compensate for the near depletion of its expensive voluntary recruitment system in 2026," the analysts concluded.

Mobilization in the Russian Federation - details of the Russian army's losses

It should be noted that Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov announced the losses of the Russian Armed Forces in January 2026 are "minus" 30,000. soldiers, and this exceeds the number of contract volunteers, which are recruited monthly about 22 thousand people.

The previous wave of mobilization in the Russian Federation took place in the fall of 2022. According to Ukrainian intelligence, the Kremlin recruited about 400,000-500,000 people into the army, while about 900,000 fled the country.The mobilized became the basis of Moscow's offensive campaign in 2022-23.

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