New analysis suggests Russian President Vladimir Putin may be preparing further involuntary reserve call-ups as Moscow seeks to offset mounting battlefield losses in Ukraine. This has been revealed by a report published in The Guardian.
The US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said the Kremlin has backed legislation that would allow authorities to prosecute Russians who criticise compulsory reserve mobilisation. According to Russia’s deputy chair of the committee on security and anti-corruption, the aim is to make evading service to the “motherland” socially unacceptable.
The think tank also reported that the Kremlin has restricted access to the messaging platform Telegram in recent days, likely in an effort to curb criticism and control information about the war effort. The ISW argues that such measures have been building since at least October, as Moscow attempts to sustain troop numbers without resorting to a full mobilisation.
According to the report, Putin’s strategy is not to dramatically expand forces on the frontline, but to maintain current offensive operations and replace ongoing losses. The ISW contends that this approach reflects weakness rather than strength, as Russia’s costly voluntary recruitment system appears to be nearing exhaustion.
Russian officials have acknowledged that recruitment has at times only just matched monthly casualty rates. Bloomberg reported last week, citing Western officials, that Russia suffered roughly 9,000 more casualties than it was able to replace in January 2026 alone.
via The Guardian
