New wave of “mobilization” in Russia?

The authorities of Russia may conduct a new stage of “mobilization,” calling up tens of thousands of recruits for the war in Ukraine.

Photo: Internet

As reported by CNN on January 24, citing U.S. and Western officials familiar with intelligence data, Vladimir Putin is considering the possibility of conducting another wave of mobilization and calling up to 200,000 people into the army.

According to CNN, the new wave of mobilization will be “quieter.”

“Putin knows how unpopular the first wave of mobilization was at the end of last year, when protests erupted and hundreds of thousands of men of conscription age fled the country to avoid mobilization,” the report notes.

The decision to conduct a new stage of mobilization has not yet been made.

Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov denied this report in a conversation with TASS.

Earlier, Dmitry Peskov also denied reports that the Federal Security Service of Russia had imposed restrictions on the departure abroad for citizens eligible for military service.

Earlier, Ukrainian media, citing the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, reported that since January 9, 2023, the FSB of Russia had instructed its border units to restrict the departure of citizens eligible for military service from the territory of the Russian Federation.

Peskov called this report an informational “duck.” Meanwhile, this week there were reports that natives of CIS countries, particularly Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, who have obtained Russian citizenship, are being refused exit from Russia. According to them, Russian border guards explained that they have been included in the mobilization list and cannot leave the country.