In Russia there is no need to hold a new wave of mobilization due to the withdrawal from the front in Ukraine mercenaries Wagner PMC, said the head of the State Duma Defense Committee Andrei Kartapolov.
“There is no need for any new wave of mobilization. <…> The president of the Russian Federation clearly, clearly and specifically said that there will be no new mobilization, there is a planned recruitment of servicemen under contract, there is a planned formation of [military] formations and units, including the reserve, their training”, Kartapolov said (quoted by TASS).
He assured that the Wagnerians “have something and someone to replace them” in the reserve. There will be no reduction in combat capabilities of the Russian troops, because last month the PMC soldiers were in camps, and the repulsion of the Ukrainian offensive “went practically without their participation” explained the deputy.
Vladimir Putin denied the need for a new mobilization at a meeting with “war correspondents” in mid-June. “Depending on what goals we set for ourselves, we have to solve the issue of mobilization. But there is no such need today”, Putin said, adding that 156,000 people have signed up for contracts in the army since the beginning of the year, and 9,500 in the last week.
On the evening of June 23, the Wagner PMC of Yevgeny Prigozhin arranged an armed mutiny, seizing the headquarters of the Southern Military District in Rostov-on-Don and marching towards Moscow. By the evening of June 24, Prigozhin had agreed with the Kremlin to close the criminal case against him for organizing the mutiny, as well as to allow himself and his mercenaries to leave for Belarus.
According to Kartapolov, the reason for Prigozhin’s rebellion was the requirement to sign a contract with the Defense Ministry. The head of the PMC was warned that if he did not do so, his mercenaries would not be able to participate in the war in Ukraine, “neither money, nor financial or material resources will be there”, said Kartapolov.
On the eve of a telegram channel associated with the Wagner announced about the suspension of recruitment of mercenaries, “due to the temporary non-participation” of the PMCs in hostilities, as well as their move to Belarus.
Prior to that, Putin offered those participants of the insurgency, who “stopped at the last line”, a few options to choose from: to sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense, to return to their loved ones or to go to Belarus.
