Russia prepares to send 2 million reservists to Ukraine war; new law gives Moscow more flexibility

Russia is preparing to send nearly 2 million reservists to the Ukrainian fronts under new legal amendments that allow the country’s military to increase the number of its troops, which currently number more than 700,000, without a formal declaration of war or general mobilization.

The move, proposed by the Russian Defense Ministry and backed by parliament, is described as a response to a war of attrition and heavy casualties on both sides.

Alexei Zhuravlev, deputy chairman of the Defense Committee in the Russian parliament (Duma), announced that the reserve forces include 2 million professional soldiers who have not yet been used due to legal restrictions.

He added: “Until now, the use of these forces was only possible under conditions of martial law or general mobilization; we are engaged in a real and widespread battle in Ukraine, but war has not yet been officially declared.”