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SMS alerts sent to more than 100,000 Greek reservists in recent days sparked fears of war across Greece, prompting military authorities to stress that no mobilization has been declared.
The messages reached men in their 40s and 50s, telling them a document from the "Mobilizing Authority" had been posted to their personal gov.gr inbox.
Many recipients asked whether an emergency military mobilization was underway.
The notices arrived at a time of rising tension between Ankara and Athens, as Greece pursues a plan to build a force of 150,000 active reservists by 2030.
Greek military authorities reportedly said no mobilization has been declared and the messages are not an order to report to a military unit.
The Hellenic Army General Staff sought to calm citizens who believed they were being called up, telling them that "war is not breaking out."
More than 100,000 notices have been sent to reservists as part of an update of their records and a shift to a more digitized reserve system.
Defense Ministry sources cited by Greek media said the process updates reservists' mobilization status and is not linked to any imminent war mobilization.
The wording of the messages, including the terms "Mobilizing Authority" and "Special Movement Sheet," was enough to trigger intense debate and concern on social media.
Law 5265/2026, published Jan. 10, 2026, extended the reserve age limit for enlisted reservists to 60. That is why men in their 40s and 50s are receiving the documents.
Men removed from the reserve before Jan. 10, 2026, for reaching the previous age limit are not re-enrolled. An actual call-up requires a decision by the national defense minister on the proposal of the relevant armed forces branch chief, under the new law.
Greek military faces a personnel shortage driven by rising resignations and early retirements among officers and noncommissioned officers, as well as unfilled quotas at military schools. Athens also opened voluntary military service to women, but the move drew little response.
Greek army sources told Greek news site Newsbomb that participation in the new Active Volunteer Reserve has exceeded initial expectations after three months of operation.
Volunteers train at three reserve training centers in Avlona, Litochoro and Naousa.
Their courses cover drones and counter-drone defense, combat first aid and firing simulators.
The program is a key part of the Defense Ministry's "Agenda 2030" reform, which aims to build a force of 150,000 trained active reservists by 2030.
Greece has also formed three new special operations units in Attica, Central Macedonia and northern Evros. Two of the three units are made up entirely of reservists.
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