Reports indicate that Russia is beginning to issue draft notices to citizens who are returning to the country.
In Russia, men between the ages of 18 and 30 are required to serve a compulsory 12-month term in the military. Previously, the upper age limit was 27, but in 2023 it was extended by three years.
Accompanying these changes in 2023 was an increase in the fines for failing to report to an enlistment office after receiving a draft notice. The fine was raised to a maximum of 30,000 rubles, approximately USD $330, compared to the previous range of 500-3,000 rubles ($5-32).
In November, the Russian Interior Ministry announced the establishment of 12 new migration control points at major airports, including those in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg.
While the official reason for these new checkpoints was to identify foreign nationals violating immigration laws, there have been suggestions that they are being used to serve notices to citizens who are new or returning.
There have been accounts of Russian nationals being stopped at these checkpoints and receiving draft notices.
The state-run Russian channel Vesti Ural reported on one individual’s experience. According to a section of the report (via United24 Media): “The moment this man landed in the Urals, he was informed he couldn’t just fly back out.
“He may have arrived from abroad, but officially he’s a Russian citizen—and that necessitates mandatory military registration, even if he holds a return ticket for the next day.”
Pro-government media outlets have refuted these claims, stating that the individual was not approached ‘at the aircraft stairway’ and asserting that officers acted only within designated checkpoints.
They also denied allegations that receiving a summons would automatically prevent outbound travel.
The increasing reports of conscription align with Vladimir Putin’s statements about being ready to confront Europe if necessary, amid ongoing speculation about World War 3.
“We’re not planning to go to war with Europe, I’ve said that a hundred times,” Putin stated according to Sky News. “But if Europe suddenly wants to fight us and starts, we’re ready right now. There can be no doubt about that.”
“If Europe suddenly wants to start a war with us and does, then a situation could very quickly arise in which we have no one to negotiate with,” he further commented.
Putin’s remarks came after he accused Europe of interfering with Ukraine’s upcoming peace agreement with Russia. He claimed that European leaders imposed ‘demands’ on Moscow that he considered ‘absolutely unacceptable’.