According to a story that was published in a Russian publication, Vladimir Putin's mobilisation push might result in the recruitment of one million Russian nationals to fight in the war that is taking place in Ukraine.
On Wednesday, the Russian president delivered a televised address to the country in which he stated that mandatory military service would only be required of "citizens who are currently in the reserve, especially those who have served in the armed forces, have certain military professions and relevant experience."
Shortly after Putin's statement, the country's minister of defence, Sergei Shoigu, stated that 300,000 Russians would be called up as part of the mobilisation and that it would apply to "those with past military experience."
He stated that students should "keep attending to class" and that "these are not folks who have never seen or heard anything about the army."
However, Novaya Gazeta, a Russian independent newspaper that operates in exile, has reported that an unidentified source in Putin's cabinet has stated that the true aim is to call up one million individuals. The official was mentioned in the publication.
According to the individual who spoke with the newspaper, the seventh paragraph of the order, which Putin signed on Wednesday, has a secret provision that permits the Russian defence ministry to call up one million people.