MOSCOW, December 14. /TASS/. There is no need for another wave of mobilization because as of today, 486,000 people have voluntarily signed up for the military to defend their country, including in the zone of the special military operation, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at the combined Direct Line Q&A session and year-end press conference.

He noted that currently there are about 244,000 mobilized troops in the combat zone along with regiments to fix equipment. That said, 41,000 people have been dismissed for various reasons, including age and health condition. Putin noted that following the call-up, a campaign was launched to enlist about 412,000 contract servicemen in Russia’s Armed Forces.

"As of last night, they told me that 486,000 had enlisted. And the flow of our men who are ready to take up arms to defend the interests of our Motherland is not receding. Some 1,500 people sign up daily across the country," Putin said. "So, together with volunteers, but this is a relative gradation, the contract is signed for two years, the so-called volunteers sign up for three, although, essentially, all of them are heroes and the Motherland’s warriors, but they simply have a shorter [contract] by one year - all together, there will be up to half a million people by the end of this year." "So, is there any need for mobilization? This is why it is not necessary at all to hold it," the president stressed.

Putin reiterated that within the framework of partial mobilization about 300,000 people were called up last year, adding that 14 of those had become Heroes of the Russian Federation. "I am not even mentioning other medals and awards," the head of state added.