Russia admits “mistakes” in the mobilization of reservists after calling elderly or disabled people

The Kremlin has admitted “mistakes” in its campaign to mobilize Russian Army reservists to fight in Ukraine, following popular pressure. “There are cases in which the decree is violated,” acknowledged Dimitri Peskov, the spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the BBC. Peskov assured that “all errors will be corrected.” Various reports claim that people without military experience, too old or even disabled are being called up. Last week’s mobilization decree has already sparked widespread protests. President Putin ordered a “partial mobilization” on September 21, and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu later put 300,000 reservists to be called up. However, Russian opposition media reports suggested up to a million people could be called up, noting that a paragraph believed to be about the exact number of reservists required was omitted (classified) in the published version of the Putin’s decree on the official website of the Kremlin. The Kremlin announced exceptions in certain sectors that it considers strategic, including finance and technology, which it does not want to see harmed by the course of the war. Government-approved media workers would also be exempt. More than 250,000 youths on the run Several military experts in the West and Ukraine say Putin’s decision to call up reservists shows Russian troops are making serious mistakes on the battlefield in Ukraine, more than seven months after Moscow launched its invasion. After several media raised the possibility that the government ordered a border closure and the imposition of martial law to cut off those who fear being mobilized from leaving the country, Peskov said he was “not aware” of any measures of that type. Since the announcement of the mobilization, more than 2,000 people have been arrested in protests across Russia and many young Russians, some 260,000, have left the country. Images taken by satellite showed kilometric queues at the borders with Georgia, Kazakhstan or Mongolia, while rumors increase that the authorities could close the border for men of mobilization age.