Russia’s government has endorsed draft legislation that would allow the deployment of reservists for defense-related missions outside the country, even during peacetime, state media reported.
The proposal, developed by the Ministry of Defense and backed by the government’s legislative commission, seeks to amend the federal laws on defense, military duty, and the status of servicemen.
If passed, it would enable reservists who have signed contracts to be called up not only in wartime or during mobilization, but also under peacetime conditions for specific operations.
Expansion of Peacetime Military Authority
Under the draft, reservists could be summoned by presidential order to participate in what the bill terms “special training assemblies.”
These assemblies would allow personnel to carry out defense-related assignments in scenarios such as armed conflicts, counterterrorism operations, or missions involving the use of force abroad.
Deployments would be capped at two months, with additional pay for participants.
Current legislation permits reservist service only during wartime or official mobilization.
Andrei Kartapolov, head of the State Duma’s Defense Committee, told Russian outlet RBC that the proposal grants the Defense Ministry broader flexibility to utilize reservists “in various circumstances” without the need for new laws each time.
He added that the clause permitting operations “outside Russian territory” reflects realities on the ground, noting that “the Sumy and Kharkiv regions, where fighting is also taking place, are de jure located outside the country.”
Legal Context and Wartime Ambiguity
The move comes amid continued fighting in Ukraine, which Moscow officially calls a “special military operation” rather than a war.
That distinction has allowed the Kremlin to avoid declaring full mobilization while still sustaining large-scale combat operations.
The lack of a formal wartime status has, however, required repeated legal adjustments to accommodate Russia’s prolonged military engagement.
The country’s mobilization reserve was established by presidential decree in 2015, allowing citizens to voluntarily sign contracts for reserve service.
These reservists undergo annual training and receive stipends in exchange for their readiness to be called up.
Following President Vladimir Putin’s partial mobilization order in September 2022, then-Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Russia possessed an “enormous mobilization resource” of around 25 million people.
If approved by lawmakers, the new legislation would further institutionalize Russia’s ability to conduct overseas operations and maintain a standing reserve force even outside the framework of declared war.
