Russia faces sustained manpower demands from its military operations in Ukraine, where high attrition rates continue to outpace voluntary contract recruitment. Authorities have emphasized regular conscription under the year-round draft system introduced in 2026, with plans to induct 120,000 conscripts this autumn beginning October 10 and assurances they will not deploy to combat zones. Kremlin officials, including President Putin, have repeatedly dismissed rumors of a new large-scale forced mobilization as unfounded, even after September parliamentary elections. At the same time, measures such as army size increases, expanded military registration, regional drills, and enforcement actions against draft evasion indicate preparations for heightened recruitment. Ukrainian assessments point to incremental or covert steps already underway, though no formal announcement akin to the 2022 partial mobilization has occurred.