Armenia is ready to take in Russians fleeing mobilization
Armenia will not prevent Russian citizens from entering the country in the event of a new wave of mobilization and is prepared to provide them with assistance if necessary. Security Council Secretary Alain Simonyan stated that Russians will not be asked about the reasons for their entry at the border.
“I can say only one thing to the Russian people: ‘Welcome to Armenia.’ Here, we love everyone and respect everyone. And they will find everything they were hoping to find here… And they will return to Russia when it is convenient for them,” Simonyan emphasized.
This statement comes amid numerous reports of preparations for another mobilization campaign in Russia. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Russian military is already assessing the regions’ readiness for conscription, which could begin after the September elections. This is due to massive losses: according to CSIS estimates, by July 2026, the Russian military’s losses had exceeded 1.4 million killed and wounded, and the recruitment of contract soldiers no longer covers the shortfall.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously noted that Russia could draft between 300,000 and 500,000 people this fall. At the same time, analysts point out that of the 300,000 mobilized in 2022, only about 168,000 remain in active service. Meanwhile, 17 regions of Russia are already reporting covert mobilization through the forcible detention of men and coercion to sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense.
As a reminder, Melnik called on Russians at the UN to leave the country ahead of a possible mobilization.
Earlier, Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, stated that covert mobilization in Russia was intensifying and suggested that its scale could influence the Russian leadership’s decision regarding a new open draft.
Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, stated that the Kremlin currently has no plans to announce a mobilization after the fall elections. At the same time, he called for waiting until the end of the electoral process, hinting that the situation could change.
In Russia, authorities plan to impose fines for failure to comply with decisions made by regional leaders and operational headquarters regarding mobilization and meeting the army’s needs. The Russian government has submitted a corresponding bill to the State Duma for consideration.
