Putin signs decree calling up reservists for 2026 military training

Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 8 signed a decree summoning reservists for military training in 2026.

According to the document, citizens in the reserve will take part in the annual training, with the government and regional authorities tasked with organizing the process. The decree takes immediate effect and includes two classified sections marked “for official use,” believed to specify the number of reservists and training timelines.

Winter call-ups are unusual for Russia. Last year Putin signed a similar decree in January — the first such early order in two decades. In previous years, call-up decrees were typically issued between February and June.