The State Duma of the Russian Federation approved a law on October 28 that grants the right to mobilize reservists of the Armed Forces of Russia for tasks during peacetime. The corresponding document was adopted in three readings.
This is reported by Kyiv24
New Powers for Mobilizing Reservists
According to current legislation, the mobilization reserve consists of individuals who have voluntarily signed a contract to remain in the reserve. Previously, such reservists could only be called up for annual gatherings, and could be used for combat tasks exclusively during mobilization or wartime.
However, the new law, developed by the Ministry of Defense of Russia, expands these possibilities: henceforth, reservists can be directed to additional, so-called “special” gatherings. The purpose of such gatherings is to ensure the protection of critically important facilities and other vital infrastructure of the country.
Details of the Bill and Its Limitations
The explanatory note states that the changes allow for the use of reservists in peacetime, not just in the event of mobilization or war. It is worth noting that the final version of the law, which the government commission approved on October 13, excluded provisions regarding the mobilization of reservists for operations outside of Russia or during counter-terrorism activities.
The bill was submitted to the State Duma on October 23.
Deputy Chief of the Main Organizational and Mobilization Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, Vladimir Tsymlansky, emphasized that this document does not apply to all citizens, does not foresee a general draft for military service, and is not aimed at sending reservists to the so-called “SVO zone” or abroad.
“Reservists will be directed to special gatherings for the protection of vital infrastructure, including energy facilities, transportation, oil refineries, and other infrastructure,” explained Tsymlansky.
Additionally, Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, Sergey Shoigu, stated that President Vladimir Putin supported the idea of creating volunteer formations to enhance the protection of particularly important facilities in the country.