The revised conscription and mobilization rules in Russia were signed into law by President Vladimir Putin on Friday, with the aim of establishing a centralized digital database of individuals eligible for military service.
The new registry will be created by the Ministry of Digital Development and operated by the Ministry of Defense, using various government databases, such as tax, medical, election, police and court records, and data from employers and universities.
The registry will enable tracking of conscription summons through electronic platforms, in addition to traditional mail, and recipients will not be allowed to leave Russia once the summons is issued.
Failure to respond to the summons within 20 days, without a valid exemption, will result in penalties, such as restrictions on registering a business, obtaining bank loans, or purchasing real estate or a vehicle.
However, these decisions may be challenged in court. The fast-tracked procedure for passing the amendments was driven by national security priorities, according to presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Russian law mandates one year of military service for male citizens between the ages of 18 and 27, and a separate amendment was introduced to increase the age bracket to 21 to 30 by 2026, to minimize disruption to education.
The conscription infrastructure inherited from the Soviet Union was exposed as flawed during last year’s call-up, with summons being issued to those without prior military experience or those who were otherwise ineligible.
