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On the same day, the Russian State Duma passed a law permitting citizens with criminal records, specifically those convicted of crimes related to drug trafficking and organized crime, to sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense during an official mobilization.
Read also: Will Putin announce mobilization? OSINT analyst assesses Russia's options
Russian Deputy Defense Minister Viktor Goremykin stated on July 22 that the law will expand the pool of Russians eligible for military service and "contribute to Russia's efforts" to recruit personnel for the war in Ukraine in 2026.
On July 21, Rosgvardia published proposed amendments to expand its civil defense regulations to "protect Russian society from unspecified dangers" during mobilization, martial law, and wartime.
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a law in November 2025 permitting him to deploy reservists to combat zones without declaring a formal mobilization. According to ISW analysts, the Kremlin will likely utilize this legislation to execute gradual, partial calls-up of reservists.
Experts noted that Russian authorities are establishing conditions to declare an official mobilization and likely implement martial law in Russia while bracing for potential public unrest, as mobilization remains deeply unpopular within Russian society.
At the same time, the decision to mobilize remains Putin's personal call and ultimately depends on his own assessment of the battlefield situation and the Kremlin's internal stability. It remains unclear whether Putin will make this decision in the near future and what specific format a mobilization announcement might take.
Read also: Putin has options, all of them risky — Fishman
On July 18, the Center for Countering Disinformation reported that Russia plans to mobilize over 500,000 people in the fall to replenish losses and potentially open a new offensive axis. Part of the mobilized forces are slated to be deployed to the frontlines within two weeks of conscription to cover casualties in the east, while others will undergo approximately a month of training for a potential new vector of combat operations.
On June 1, a post appeared on the Telegram channel of Russian State Duma Deputy Andrey Gurulyov stating that the Kremlin is preparing a new mobilization in the fall due to Russian forces reaching a stalemate on the front lines.
Gurulyov himself soon claimed that his Telegram channel was "hacked" and that "texts from there are being spread by enemies." However, his June 1 post has still not been deleted.
Read also: Russia's enlistment offices issuing far more conscription orders in 2026
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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Section: Nation
Author: Дарина Халперина
