Russia has завершed its autumn 2025 military conscription cycle, calling up 135,000 conscripts, according to the Defence Ministry and state media. At the same time, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree setting a new annual target of 261,000 conscripts for 2026, marking a shift toward more formalized, long-term manpower planning.

The autumn call-up was conducted under Presidential Decree No. 690, signed on September 29, 2025, and covered service in the armed forces and other military formations. Authorities said the draft was completed on schedule, with most recruits sent to training units rather than frontline deployment.

First Unified Annual Target

The 2026 decree is notable because it consolidates conscription targets for an entire calendar year—January 1 to December 31, 2026—into a single document. This follows the introduction of year-round conscription legislation, replacing the previous system of separate spring and autumn decrees with individually specified numbers.

Under the new framework, citizens aged 18 to 30 who are not in reserve will be eligible for service. Russian officials say the change is intended to streamline administration and improve predictability for force planning as the military adapts to sustained operational demands.

Manpower Strain Beneath the Surface

The move comes amid mounting signs of strain within Russia’s mobilization system. Independent estimates suggest that since 2022 roughly 800,000 to 900,000 people have left the country, while up to 700,000 are believed to have fled or attempted to avoid conscription. Open-source intelligence assessments indicate that as many as 70,000 soldiers could desert from the army in 2025 alone.

While the Kremlin does not publish official figures on draft evasion or desertion, analysts say the scale of avoidance has already prompted tighter digital draft systems and stricter border controls for military-age men.

Training Focus, Not Frontline Claims

Russian authorities maintain that most new conscripts are assigned to training units to operate modern equipment and acquire military specializations, taking into account health status and psychological screening. Officials continue to insist that conscripts are not intended for direct combat roles, despite sustained fighting and manpower demands linked to the war in Ukraine.

Taken together, the completion of the autumn draft and the higher 2026 target suggest a shift from ad hoc mobilization toward institutionalized, long-duration force generation—an approach that signals the Kremlin is planning for prolonged military pressure rather than short-term escalation.