The Russian National Guard Has Begun Preparing For Mobilization
- 21.07.2026, 20:18
Putin is preparing for an escalation of hostilities.
The Russian National Guard has decided to update the civil defense regulations, incorporating preparation for threats during mobilization for the first time. The draft document has been published on the regulatory portal, as noted by "Agency". The amendments are being made to a 2018 order that regulates the organization of civil defense within the Rosgvardia forces.
Currently, the order refers to advance preparation for the protection of employees of this federal service, civilian personnel, employees of subordinate organizations, their family members, and property. Following the changes, the order will specify that this refers to preparations for protection “against dangers arising during mobilization, under martial law, and in wartime.”
In addition, the Russian Guard will expand the list of civil defense tasks. Specifically, the evacuation of military personnel will be added—currently, the document refers only to civilian staff, employees, and their family members.
According to the explanatory note, the changes are necessary to bring the order into line with the Civil Defense Act, which was updated in 2025. Following the amendments, the law now defines civil defense as a system for preparing to protect the population from dangers during mobilization, martial law, and wartime. Previously, the focus was on protection “during military conflicts or as a result of such conflicts, as well as during emergencies.”
Experts from the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War warned as early as February about the possibility of a new mobilization in Russia. They noted that the rate of recruitment of contract soldiers had ceased to offset frontline casualties, which, according to Western estimates, had reached 1.4 million by the middle of this year, including those killed and wounded.
Sources at The Washington Post reported that a number of European officials do not rule out a mobilization after the State Duma elections if heavy frontline casualties persist. Over the summer, rumors of a possible mobilization began to circulate on Z-channels, which cited a specific date (October) and even the number of conscripts—1.2 million people. Sources at “Versta” and “Vazhnye Istorii” claimed that the Ministry of Defense is already preparing training grounds to receive new recruits, and that those responsible for replenishing the army have been given the necessary orders.
According to human rights activists, an increasing number of Russians are receiving mobilization orders when they report to military registration and enlistment offices in response to a summons to “update their information.” A representative of one group of conscripts said that military registration and enlistment offices are now “operating on orders, checking everyone, and adding people to a group of those who ‘may be useful to the army,’ calling it preparation for general mobilization and the selection of candidates.”
According to sources close to the Kremlin who spoke with Reuters, Vladimir Putin is preparing for an escalation of hostilities in response to Ukrainian attacks deep inside Russia.