The Kremlin has stated that there is no discussion about a second wave of mobilization in Russia. Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary for President Vladimir Putin, reiterated that the Kremlin has not been considering a continuation of conscription. This response came after reports circulating on Telegram channels suggested a new phase of partial mobilization might be underway.
Peskov previously dismissed the idea of a second mobilization wave, noting that there would be no new rounds of conscription. Earlier reports from Kursk and Rostov regions mentioned new mobilization tasks and a transition to a second phase, which drew considerable attention from observers and the media.
President Putin issued a decree initiating partial mobilization on September 21, explaining that the move was necessary to safeguard Russia’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security. The Russian Ministry of Defense later announced that roughly 300,000 people had been conscripted. By October 31, the ministry reported that all mobilization activities, including the delivery of subpoenas, had ceased.
The decree announcing the end of mobilization was not published, and Putin asserted that the mobilization issue was closed. He indicated that no separate decree was needed to formalize its completion, a view later echoed by Peskov who confirmed there was no requirement for such a document. In November, Andrei Kartapolov, who heads the State Duma Defense Committee, said that inquiries to military recruitment offices continued after mobilization to verify data.
Officials described the subpoenas as a routine step for individuals to submit documents and provide information for the database. After this information is entered, most people return home, while opponents who claim mobilization persists were accused of inflating the issue. The claim was that mobilization had ended and that reporting to misrepresent its status should be dismissed.
Objectives of the military operation
During a briefing, Peskov was asked whether a change in Ukraine’s government would be an objective of Russia’s military operation. He replied that such a shift had already been ruled out by the Russian leadership and that Moscow aims to achieve its goals through various approaches and formats in the course of its special military operation.
Peskov also commented on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement that Moscow is not seeking negotiations with Kyiv but is looking for a brief ceasefire that would provide a breathing space in hostilities. He stressed that Russia intends to reach its defined aims and would pursue them by any means deemed appropriate.
In related remarks, Konstantin Kosachev, deputy chairman of the Federation Council, suggested in an interview with a news outlet that normalization of relations between Moscow and Kyiv is possible only after a change of power in Ukraine. He argued that the current leadership is bound by the consequences of past actions and ideological stances, complicating reconciliation efforts.
Seeking accountability for the deaths of prisoners of war
The Kremlin spokesman pledged to locate and punish those responsible for the killing of Russian prisoners of war near Makeevka, a village where disturbing footage circulated on social channels in mid-November. Peskov stated that those involved would be tracked down and held to account. He did not rule out turning to international organizations to seek justice if there were credible leads suggesting efficiency in pursuing accountability. He emphasized Russia’s intent to act within international mechanisms to bring attention to the crime and to call those involved to order and law.
Video footage circulated on Telegram channels reportedly showed executions of Russian prisoners of war in Makeevka. The material appeared to depict Russian soldiers in uniform and others in yellow armbands who may be Ukrainian forces. The footage circulated as the village of Makeevka reportedly came under Ukrainian control earlier in the month. News organizations corroborated the authenticity of the video and noted Makeevka’s status in regional reporting from around that period, confirming changes in control on the ground.