Russian President Vladimir Putin denied Thursday that his government is planning a new mobilization, saying Russia has no current need to call up additional troops for its campaign in Ukraine.
Speaking at the plenary session of the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Putin stated that no scenario requiring mobilization exists at present. He characterized reports of a forthcoming mobilization as a disinformation campaign by Ukraine aimed at influencing parliamentary elections scheduled for later this month.
"Today there is no such scenario according to which mobilization would be needed," Putin said. "This is an enemy disinformation campaign against the State Duma elections, which seeks to influence their results," he added, referring to Russia's legislative elections.
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied plans for another mobilization drive. The last major call-up occurred in 2022, following a series of military setbacks on the battlefield in Ukraine. That partial mobilization, which the Kremlin said targeted approximately 300,000 people from Russia's population of roughly 140 million, proved deeply unpopular and prompted men of draft age to flee the country.