President Vladimir Putin has dismissed growing speculation that he plans to announce a new round of military mobilization following State Duma and regional elections later this month.
“It’s complete nonsense. It’s an information attack on Russia,” Putin told reporters late on Tuesday in his first remarks on the rumors.
As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has stalled in its fifth year, questions are once again mounting over whether Putin could resort to a politically costly mobilization to boost his military’s manpower.
The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected reports of an impending draft, characterizing them as a foreign disinformation campaign.
Last week, Ukrainian intelligence agencies warned that Russia was “drawing up plans” to mobilize 600,000 men this year and in 2027.
