The Center for Public Diplomacy addressed the latest rumors about martial law in Russia

Reports about the possible imposition of martial law have begun circulating again in Russia. Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, believes that such statements may be used to gauge the mood of the Russian population, as well as to influence audiences in Ukraine and Europe.

According to Kovalenko, claims have recently been circulating in the Russian information space that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin may allegedly consider imposing martial law following a proposal from the Russian Ministry of Defense.

The head of the Center for Countering Disinformation noted that even mobilization has not been officially announced in Russia; however, in his opinion, the Russian authorities may be carrying it out covertly.

Kovalenko also recalled the reaction of Russians to previous reports of a possible mobilization. According to him, due to such rumors, some Russian citizens left for Georgia, Armenia, and other countries. At the same time, as the head of the CPD noted, Russian society’s war fatigue continues to grow.

According to Andriy Kovalenko, the current reports about the possible imposition of martial law may be a way to gauge public sentiment in Russia and assess its reaction to a possible escalation of military measures.

“The talk of martial law has been floated now just to gauge public sentiment in Russia again; the Kremlin will be analyzing the data,” Kovalenko wrote.

At the same time, the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation believes that these reports may not be aimed solely at a Russian audience. In his view, they could also be used to create additional anxiety in Ukraine and European countries.

“This news is meant to scare Europeans and, as the Russians believe, us,” added Kovalenko.

At the same time, Andriy Kovalenko stated that he personally does not believe in a scenario involving the imposition of martial law in Russia.

Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation, reported this on Telegram.

Earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that he sees signs of Russia preparing for a new wave of mobilization and does not rule out an escalation of Moscow’s aggressive actions against European countries. 

Following reports of a possible new wave of mobilization, Russians began actively searching for real estate abroad. Thailand has become one of the most popular destinations. Between January and August 2026, Russian citizens purchased 1,050 properties there for a total of $123.5 million, or 10.4 billion rubles. The number of transactions was 38% higher than during the same period last year.