Russia is seeking to reduce the proportion of draft-eligible citizens exempt from military service, the state-run TASS news agency reported Sunday, citing a government document it obtained.
Under current law, Russian men between the ages of 18 and 30 are subject to conscription but can obtain an exemption for poor health or physical condition.
The government document on preparing citizens for military service calls for the share of exempt citizens to be reduced to 17.5% by 2030 and to 16% by 2036, TASS reported.
The 2024 target stood at 19%.
Before the annexation of Crimea in 2014, around 30% of draft-eligible Russians were classified as limited in suitability for military service, the document notes.
In Russia’s Sakha, a Fallen Conscript’s Family Searches for Justice on the State’s Terms
Read more
In February, the Defense Ministry proposed changes to its rules on military medical examination that would allow individuals with medical conditions including syphilis, hypertension and select forms of psychosis to be conscripted.
In a statement at the time, the Defense Ministry said that “the new regulations are designed to improve the system of medical examinations” for soldiers deployed to the front lines in Ukraine.
“Тhe experience of mass examinations during the special military operation revealed inaccuracies and diagnostic criteria that require updates to align with current medical standards,” the military added.
Biannual conscription quotas are determined by President Vladimir Putin and have increased since the invasion of Ukraine.
Between 2019 and 2022, the annual draft quota remained stable at approximately 134,500 to 135,000.
In spring 2023, 147,000 conscripts enlisted, with an additional 130,000 enlisting that fall. This trend continued into 2024, with 150,000 men enrolling in the spring and 133,000 in the fall.
By the spring 2025 conscription campaign, the target had risen to 160,000 new conscripts.
In April, Putin signed a law stipulating that if an individual is declared fit for service but does not join the army for a reason like illness, military enlistment offices may send them to serve at the start of the next campaign without a new medical examination or separate conscription decision.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has designated The Moscow Times as an “undesirable” organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a “foreign agent.”
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work “discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership.” We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It’s quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you’re defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Continue
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.
×
Remind me next month
Thank you! Your reminder is set.