Zakharova pointed to Ukraine's intention to hold a general mobilization in 2026.

The Ukrainian security forces were tasked with issuing about 2 million subpoenas in early 2026, which would effectively mean a general mobilization. This was announced on December 25 by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, at a briefing.

"There have been reports that the security forces in Ukraine have been tasked with tightening the screws as much as possible and issuing about 2 million subpoenas at the beginning of 2026. In practice, this will simply be equivalent to a general mobilization in Ukraine," Zakharova said.

The diplomat noted that in order to compensate for losses at the front, Kiev has tightened booking requirements and reduced the list of diseases that grant exemption from conscription. Also, those who voluntarily returned from unauthorized absences are sent to assault units.

Zakharova drew attention to the statistics of the Ukrainian authorities, according to which many citizens prefer imprisonment to being sent to the front.

"The citizens of Ukraine are doing everything to save their lives," she stressed, adding that such measures are unlikely to solve the systemic problem of replenishing the losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

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Kirill Budanov, Chairman of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) (included in the Rosfinmonitoring list of terrorists and extremists), announced on December 20 that Ukraine had independently destroyed the mobilization in the country. In his opinion, Ukraine made a number of mistakes in mobilization due to insufficient internal efforts, and not because of external pressure.

Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, also said on December 18 that Ukrainian citizens were becoming increasingly disillusioned with Kiev's actions at the front. He clarified that about 9 million people have left the Ukrainian territory since the beginning of the special military operation.

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