Putin Signs Decree to Call Up Reservists for Special Exercises

Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to send reservists for special exercises aimed at protecting critical facilities. The document has been published on the official legal information portal.

"In 2026, Russian citizens serving in the mobilization reserve of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation will be sent for special exercises to ensure the protection of critical facilities and other vital infrastructure," the decree states. Putin also tasked the government with defining a list of such facilities.

The law allowing the call-up of citizens from the mobilization reserve to ensure security in the Russian Federation was signed by Putin in early November. The document was initiated by the Ministry of Defense of Russia. The General Staff of the Armed Forces had previously assured that reservists would not be sent to participate in combat operations in Ukraine.

Immediately after the signing of the law, regional authorities began conducting call-ups of citizens from the mobilization reserve. Military expert Valery Shiryayev noted that the call-up of reservists would allow the Ministry of Defense to free up contract soldiers for deployment to the front in Ukraine.

According to Putin's 2015 decree, the mobilization reserve comprises up to two million personnel. In this context, on December 29, the Ministry of Defense of Russia reported that 135,000 new conscripts had been sent to the army during the autumn draft, making it the largest campaign since 2016. The ministry also emphasized that the Unified Military Registration Register was used for the first time during the autumn draft, which, according to the Ministry of Defense, "has proven its effectiveness." On the same day, Vladimir Putin signed the first decree regarding annual call-ups starting in 2026. According to this document, it is planned to call up and send 261,000 Russian citizens aged 18 to 30 to their places of service.