Putin's decree signals Russia's strategic shift amid losses
Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, has signed a decree conscripting citizens into the reserve, indicating preparations for a prolonged conflict. The Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, Alexei Zhuravlyov, stresses the necessity of mobilizing Russia's entire male population, though people are unlikely to approve of this.
Vladimir Putin has just signed a decree concerning the conscription of citizens into the reserve, and the new law has immediately come into effect. This is the first such step in 20 years, which may suggest preparations for a prolonged conflict with Western countries. Alexei Zhuravlyov, the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, noted that it's necessary to prepare "the entire male population of Russia" for potential mobilization.
In the conflict with Ukraine, the Russian armed forces, including paratroopers, marines, and GRU special forces, have suffered significant losses. The operation to capture Kyiv, originally planned to last three days, has extended over three years, and Russians endure painful losses daily.
Elite units had to withdraw for reformation, and their positions were filled by units composed of prisoners and forcibly mobilized citizens. The Russian BBC service reports that Putin's troops lose skilled soldiers every day, forcing the president to make decisions that may be unpopular in Russia.
Lieutenant General Viktor Sobolev emphasized that people over the age of 30 will be sent to training camps to acquire military registration skills. Putin's new decree confirms these plans.
The decree mandates the Russian government and executive authorities of the Russian Federation to organize training. The decree includes two secret paragraphs regarding the number of citizens to be sent to camps and their training dates. Residents of large cities fear this could mean being sent to the front under coercion and deceit, according to reports from independent Russian media.
Military training camps in Russia typically occurred in spring or summer. The most recent January camps occurred back in 2003. However, Putin's decree introduces winter training, which is uncommon. In 2024, the exercises began in March and were the largest in a decade, as reported by "The Moscow Times". Military commissariats in the Moscow region sent letters to managers demanding lists of employees subject to the military fee law.
Mobilization of young Russians, Putin makes a decision
Lieutenant General Viktor Sobolev noted that 100% of young people in Russia should obtain a specialty and be capable of military registration. People over the age of 30 will be directed to training camps to acquire a military registration specialty and avoid becoming "cannon fodder."
Sobolev emphasizes the necessity of having a trained mobilization reserve, as people fear those mobilized could face the fate of soldiers just before the invasion of Ukraine. Some were initially told they were going for exercises and only discovered on foreign soil that they were involved in an invasion.
Russia has long struggled with the issue of insufficient soldiers. Recruits from North Korea were expected to assist, but they are inadequately trained, face high casualties, and do not provide effective combat strength. To date, they have fought in the Kursk region, where The Armed Forces of Ukraine inflicted significant losses on them. It appears Russia may no longer rely on soldiers from Kim Jong Un.
If the authorities indeed turn to young men from large cities, this could provoke social resistance against Vladimir Putin, as reported by independent media. Whether this will happen remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: the president's decision indicates that the Russian army has a significant problem.
