Russia Lays Groundwork for New Russian Military Mobilization as Casualties Mount

Russian leader Vladimir Putin is laying the groundwork for a potential new round of military mobilization, according to The Moscow Times, citing report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on February 19.

The move comes as Russia’s army struggles with mounting casualties in Ukraine, and the pool of contract soldiers has proven insufficient to cover frontline losses.

Recent legislation passed at the end of 2025 allows the Russian Ministry of Defense to tap into a 2-million-strong mobilization reserve. According to The Moscow Times, this is a direct attempt to address severe personnel shortfalls. Western intelligence estimates suggest that in January alone, 9,000 more Russian soldiers died than were recruited

While Russian authorities have stated that reserve soldiers will only be deployed to protect critical infrastructure within Russia, the new laws provide for their use beyond the country’s borders.

ISW highlights that Russian recruitment offices have been operating year-round since November, and a new law signed by Putin in December introduced a levy on reservists.

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War in Ukraine

1 to 27: Russia Is Now Losing Troops Faster Than It Can Recruit

Feb 19, 2026 14:34

The previous mobilization in September 2022 sparked widespread dissent, with up to 900,000 Russians fleeing the country. The Kremlin is wary of a repeat of that backlash. Despite recruiting efforts, the army’s manpower remains limited, with only 78,000 of the 300,000 mobilized soldiers from 2022 remaining on the frontlines as of May 2025, The Moscow Times wrote.

ISW experts argue that Putin faces a difficult balancing act between maintaining military momentum and preventing further social unrest. The report also notes that Russia’s war strategy, which relies on contract soldiers, is nearing exhaustion in 2026, as the country’s military and economy grow increasingly strained.

It was previously reported that the number of Russian soldiers killed in action in the ongoing war against Ukraine has significantly increased in recent weeks.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov reported that Ukrainian forces killed 35,000 Russian soldiers in December. He stated that the goal is to increase that number to 50,000 by this summer, a figure that would roughly double the monthly average of losses calculated by NATO for 2025.

The heightened lethality has been attributed to more effective Ukrainian drone operations, with assessments from multiple European governments noting that the ratio of deaths to injuries has recently shifted in favor of fatalities.

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