According to the report, Kartapolov also accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of spreading rumors about plans for a major call-up after the September parliamentary elections.
Kartapolov said the primary way to replenish forces remains recruiting contract volunteers, adding that Ukrainian strikes deep inside Russian territory only serve to increase the number of people willing to enter military service.
Kartapolov has made similar assurances before. On Sept. 20, 2022, one day before the Kremlin announced “partial mobilization,” he told Russians there would be no mobilization, calling concerns “unfounded.”
This is the second time in a week that members of the State Duma have tried to dismiss mobilization rumors. On July 24, Defense Committee member Andrey Kolesnik also said there was no talk of a new draft.
President Zelenskyy said July 25 that, since the
start of 2026, Russia’s armed forces have received 221,000 new personnel while
suffering 225,500 losses, including 131,000 killed. On July 26, he said Russian
dictator Vladimir Putin plans a new mobilization this fall and predicted it
could follow Duma elections on Sept. 20, possibly sending 300,000 to 500,000
people to the front.