Russia denies plans for mass mobilization, echoing assurances made before 2022 call-up
Russia does not currently plan a mass mobilization, Moscow’s ambassador to the United Nations Vasily Nebenzya said, as Ukrainian officials warn that the Kremlin may seek to mobilize hundreds of thousands of additional troops this fall.
“Don’t worry about mobilization in Russia,” Nebenzya told reporters in New York, according to Ukrinform. “It has been officially stated many times that we do not currently need mass mobilization, and it is neither planned nor expected, as far as I know.”
He added, however: “We’ll see what happens after the elections - and who is right and who is wrong.”
Nebenzya also dismissed reports of large numbers of young Russians leaving for Georgia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukrainian intelligence indicates that Russia is preparing an additional mobilization after its parliamentary elections. Ukrainian estimates suggest that between 300,000 and 500,000 people could be mobilized in the fall.
Russian officials issued similar assurances shortly before President Vladimir Putin announced a “partial mobilization” in September 2022.
On Sept. 13, 2022, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov was asked whether Russia was considering either full or partial mobilization.
“At the moment, no. It is not being discussed,” Peskov said, according to Russia’s Interfax news agency.
A week later, on Sept. 20, State Duma Defense Committee head Andrei Kartapolov dismissed concerns about a general mobilization as “absolutely unfounded,” telling Russia’s Parliamentary Gazette that “there will be no general mobilization.”
The State Duma had that day approved amendments introducing tougher penalties for crimes including desertion committed during mobilization, martial law, armed conflict or combat operations.
Putin announced a partial mobilization the following morning, Sept. 21, 2022.
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