Contents tagged with conscription
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18,500 soldiers convicted in Russia of desertion or unauthorized absence since 2022, analysis finds
At least 18,500 people have been convicted in Russia for desertion and unauthorized absence from their units since the start of Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to a new analysis.
Over 3.5 years of war, Russia’s garrison military courts handed down at least 18,341 convictions in cases of desertion and leaving one’s duty station, the research center led by Kirill Parubets found in a study by The Insider.
Since February 2023, the Judicial Department of Russia’s Supreme Court …
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Russia’s military contract enlistment plunges to two-year low
In the second quarter of 2025, 37,900 Russians signed contracts with the Defense Ministry, according to the Russian outlet Vazhnyye Istorii ( Important Stories), which cited federal budget spending data.
The recruitment figure is the weakest in the past two years and 2.5 times lower than the same period in 2024, when 92,800 new contract soldiers received payments.
Overall, 127,500 people received signing bonuses in the first six months of this year. By comparison, from January to June 2024, 16 …
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Russia rolls out digital conscription as critics warn of a ‘digital Gulag’
Russia has launched a digital conscription registry, allowing authorities to summon recruits via SMS or the "Gosuslugi" app, without needing a physical signature.
The electronic registry for military summonses is now officially operating in Russia, marking a new era of digital conscription. The first confirmed case occurred in the Tver region, where a young man received two notifications—one via SMS and another through the "Gosuslugi" app. The message included a report date and an automatic …
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Putin signs decree allowing foreign nationals to serve in Russian armed forces
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Tuesday, July 8, permitting foreign nationals to serve in the Russian Armed Forces during periods of mobilization. The decree, a notable shift in policy, also authorizes foreigners to serve under terms of emergency, martial law, wartime, and armed conflict conditions.
The decree outlines that citizens of foreign countries will now be able to participate in activities aimed at "maintaining or restoring international peace and security." …
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Russia expands military recruitment to include stateless individuals
Russia has authorized stateless individuals to enlist in its military, aiming to recruit 5,000 new soldiers.
Russia’s State Duma has given its backing to legislation that permits stateless people to join the Russian armed forces under contract. According to The Moscow Times, this development reflects the Kremlin’s ongoing efforts to bolster military ranks for continued operations in Ukraine.
The approved measure amends current laws on military service and defense, equating stateless …
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Russia's spring draft targets record 160,000 conscripts amidst mounting Ukraine war casualties
The spring military draft has begun in Russia, with plans to enlist 160,000 conscripts—many of whom are reportedly signing contracts to be sent as "cannon fodder" to Ukraine. In light of enormous losses in the war with Ukraine, the Russian army leadership has planned to draft 160,000 conscripts aged 18 to 30 during the current enlistment period, running from April 1 to July 15. This marks a record number since the invasion began. According to The Moscow Times, law enforcement officers, …
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Ukraine's 155th Brigade faces controversy: draft dodgers selected for training in France amid recruitment crisis
The Ukrainian Army's "Anna of Kyiv" Brigade has sent soldiers previously caught attempting to evade conscription by illegally crossing the border, for training in France. Questions loom over how such individuals were chosen for an overseas mission.
Named the 155th Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, after Anna of Kyiv, the unit saw a mass exodus of its soldiers going AWOL throughout the year. Communications Advisor to the State Bureau of Investigation, Tatiana Sapyan, revealed that among …
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Ukraine's Chief Military Psychiatrist detained in major corruption crackdown
Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) has apprehended Oleg Druz, the chief psychiatrist of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU), on charges of illegal enrichment. The arrest, made public on Tuesday, January 21, also identifies Druz as the "deputy chairman of the Central Military Medical Commission, responsible for assessing the fitness of military personnel for service."
According to investigations, the official acquired unexplained assets worth over $1 million during the Russian invasion. These assets, …
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Ukraine struggles to locate half a million draft dodgers amidst ongoing war
Since 2022, Ukraine has put half a million military-aged men on the wanted list, according to Natalia Kindrativ, an officer from the Communications Department of the Land Forces Command. The Territorial Recruitment Centers are not authorized to search for draft dodgers on their own, and the police, Kindrativ noted, lack the resources to carry out this responsibility.
In the period since Russia's full-scale invasion, more than 500,000 people have been reported to the National Police for being …
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Russia struggles with military recruitment amid soaring frontline losses
The Russian military, engaged in a risky war against Ukraine for nearly three years, is grappling with mounting challenges. Despite boosting contract signing bonuses, the influx of volunteers continues to decline while frontline losses soar to record levels. Putin is avoiding full-scale mobilization due to fears of declining popularity among Russians.
According to the news outlet Meduza, in the third quarter of 2024, the Russian army was enlisting about 600 contract soldiers daily— …