Russian authorities are preparing new rules for involving reservists in military activities, but experts insist this is not a signal of a new mobilization wave. Military analyst and retired Navy captain Vasily Dandykin explained that the planned measures are not aimed at deploying additional troops to the conflict zone in Ukraine. Instead, they are intended for other operational scenarios.

On October 13, the Russian Ministry of Defense unveiled a draft law that would allow the use of reservists for various assignments during peacetime. Under the proposal, they could be called up for special training sessions of up to two months. These assemblies are designed to maintain readiness for potential armed conflicts or missions abroad.

Dandykin stressed that this initiative should not be interpreted as mobilization. He noted that members of the mobilization reserve are people who have already completed their military service and currently receive regular payments for remaining, as he put it, «on standby».

To illustrate his point, the analyst drew a historical parallel with the Cossacks, who led civilian lives in peacetime but could be summoned when the state required their service. Today’s reservists, he suggested, play a similar role.

He pointed out that these contract reservists live their ordinary lives, receive stipends from the Defense Ministry, and occasionally attend training camps. The new regulation would simply give the authorities greater flexibility to involve them in specific operations. According to him, this does not necessarily mean deployment to the Special Military Operation zone. Some may instead be tasked with countering sabotage or similar threats inside Russia.

Dandykin added that the mobilization reserve currently numbers in the tens of thousands, and these individuals could be called upon if the situation demands.