---
title: "A \"Rehearsal\" for Mobilization: How Russia Is Testing Its Readiness for a New Wave of Conscription — WSJ"
description: "WSJ: Russia is testing its readiness for a new wave of mobilization — inspections were carried out in Kaliningrad and across the country. There is no final decision, but the personnel shortage and a plan for 300,000 people after the elections make conscription likely."
date: 2026-08-23T19:38:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/russia-testing-readiness-for-new-mobilization-wave-wsj
tags: [russia, mobilization, war-in-ukraine, kaliningrad, wsj]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# A "Rehearsal" for Mobilization: How Russia Is Testing Its Readiness for a New Wave of Conscription — WSJ

![Russian soldiers in camouflage uniforms standing in formation during a mobilization readiness check](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/24/rossiya-gotovitsya-k-novoy-volne-mobilizatsii-wsj/rossiya-gotovitsya-k-novoy-volne-mobilizatsii-wsj-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- According to WSJ, Russia is testing the military system's readiness to absorb a massive influx of new recruits; inspections were carried out in Kaliningrad and across the country.
- The main reason is a personnel shortage: Moscow cannot cover its losses with volunteers and contract soldiers.
- Western officials believe that conscription is unlikely to be announced before the parliamentary elections at the end of September, but after the elections a plan for 300,000 people is being discussed.
- Rumors of conscription have intensified the outflow of men abroad: a record flow of over 20,000 people per day was recorded at "Verkhniy Lars."

According to The Wall Street Journal, as cited by RBC-Ukraine, the Russian leadership is testing the military system's readiness to absorb a massive influx of new recruits. No final decision on a new wave of mobilization in the Russian Federation has been made, according to available information, but heavy losses on the front may force the Kremlin to take this step. Ukrainian media reported this on August 24, 2026, citing the American newspaper.

### Inspections in Kaliningrad and Across the Country

According to WSJ, last month Russian military officers from Saint Petersburg inspected the Kaliningrad exclave, assessing the readiness to mobilize local residents, as well as the details of their accommodation, food, and armament. Western intelligence data indicates that similar checks on the ability to receive new recruits are currently being carried out across the entire territory of Russia. In several regions, the preparation of training grounds is being recorded, which are being tested for the ability to house and materially support a large number of conscripts.

### The Main Reason — A Shortage of Personnel

The publication names the shortage of human resources as the key reason for the possible announcement of conscription: in recent months, according to its information, Moscow has been unable to recruit enough volunteers and contract soldiers to cover the massive losses on the battlefield. Senior US and European officials note that the Kremlin is unlikely to announce conscription before the parliamentary elections at the end of September. At the same time, Vladimir Putin's desire to seize the entire Donbas, according to analysts, leaves him with few alternatives. "I don't think this will be decisive for Russia, and it is already too late this year, but it could become a factor in 2027. If they have specific goals, for example, seizing the rest of the Donbas, they should have mobilized several months ago," noted Michael Kofman, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment.

### Contradictory Data

There is a discrepancy in the publications and statements of the parties regarding the assessment of the timing and finality of the decision. On the one hand, WSJ and Western officials emphasize that no final decision on a new wave of mobilization has been made and that conscription is unlikely to be announced before the end of September, before the parliamentary elections. On the other hand, the same article describes a specific plan: after the elections, the Kremlin is allegedly intending to carry out a "peripheral" mobilization to recruit an additional 300,000 people. Thus, some sources speak of the absence of a final decision, while others speak of an already formed scenario with specific figures; the discrepancy in timing and the degree of readiness remains open.

### Social Reaction and Outflow Abroad

Despite the fact that recruitment formally remains voluntary, rumors of conscription have already caused anxiety in Russian society: men are actively looking for options to leave the country. At the "Verkhniy Lars" border crossing between Russia and Georgia, a record daily flow was recorded — more than 20,000 people. In neighboring countries such as Georgia and Armenia, a rise in real estate rental prices is again observed. To avoid a social panic similar to the September 2022 wave, the Russian authorities, according to the publication, have created a unified electronic database of men of conscription age, which will allow them to send electronic summonses and carry out mobilization gradually, in small groups.

### Blow to the Economy and a Bet on the Periphery

Analysts warn that a large-scale mobilization will deal another blow to the Russian economy. "You need to feed, house, arm, and pay these people, and you are removing them from an already limited labor market. This will create enormous pressure on the budget," emphasized Alexander Kozyulin, director of the consulting firm Eurasia Group. According to available information, conscription is aimed at the regions and the periphery to avoid social tension in Russia's major central cities, and the legal basis and infrastructure for the possible recruitment of new forces are already being prepared.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Russia Is Testing Its Readiness for Mobilization, - WSJ](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/rosiya-pereviryae-gotovnist-mobilizatsiyi-1787512634.html) - Пересказ WSJ: инспекции в Калининграде, проверки по стране, нехватка кадров, реакция общества, экономическое давление.
- [Russia May Carry Out a New Wave of Mobilization: WSJ Learned of the Preparations](https://ru.slovoidilo.ua/2026/08/24/novost/mir/rossiya-mozhet-provesti-novuyu-volnu-mobilizacii-wsj-uznali-podgotovke-nej) - Согласуется с базовым текстом по факту подготовки и отсутствию финального решения.
- [Russia Conducted Mobilization Exercises in Kaliningrad Oblast — WSJ](https://zn.ua/war/rossija-provela-uchenija-po-mobilizatsii-v-kalininhradskoj-oblasti-wsj.html) - Подтверждает проведение проверок/учений в Калининградской области по данным WSJ.
- [A "Rehearsal" for Mobilization: WSJ Revealed How Russia Is Preparing for a New Wave of Conscription](https://tsn.ua/ru/svit/repetitsiya-mobilizatsii-wsj-raskryl-kak-rossiya-gotovitsya-k-novoy-volne-prizyva-3154121.html) - Раскрывает детали подготовки (полигоны, электронная база, периферийный сценарий); цифра 300 тыс. и сроки — с оговорками.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Has the Kremlin made a final decision on a new mobilization?
**A:** According to WSJ, no final decision has been made yet. Infrastructure readiness checks are underway, but Western officials believe that conscription is unlikely to be announced before the parliamentary elections at the end of September.

### Q: Where exactly is Russia testing its readiness for mobilization?
**A:** According to the publication, last month officers from Saint Petersburg inspected the Kaliningrad exclave, while similar checks, according to Western intelligence, are being carried out across Russia, including the preparation of training grounds in several regions.

### Q: How is society reacting to the rumors of conscription?
**A:** The rumors have caused anxiety: men are actively looking for options to leave the country. A record daily flow of over 20,000 people was recorded at the "Verkhniy Lars" crossing, and housing rental prices are rising in Georgia and Armenia.

### Q: What scale of mobilization is being discussed after the elections?
**A:** The article mentions a plan for a "peripheral" mobilization to recruit an additional 300,000 people after the elections, aimed at the regions to avoid tension in major cities. This figure and the timing are given with caveats.