No more breaks: Russia makes new military conscription law

The Russian State Duma has passed a new law that changes the timeline for military conscription, allowing parts of the process to take place year-round.

According to Russian news outlet Interfax, the law was approved in its third reading on October 28, and adjusts the approach to how Russian citizens are called up for compulsory military service.

While the dispatch of conscripts to military units will continue to occur during the standard spring (April 1–July 15) and fall (October 1–December 31) periods, procedures like medical examinations, psychological screenings, and draft board meetings will now be held throughout the calendar year.

The changes apply only to active conscripts, not to those currently in the reserves.

Year-round summons

According to Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, the new system will allow military registration offices to spread their workload more evenly, avoiding the intense pressure of conducting all administrative tasks in limited windows.

“People will receive summonses throughout the year,” Kartapolov stated.

However, he emphasized that a summons is only an invitation to report to the military enlistment office, it does not necessarily mean immediate dispatch to military service.

Kartapolov described the current seasonal operation of military offices as functioning in “scalded cat mode” — a reference to the chaotic rush during peak periods.

The new law, he said, will help these offices run “normally and smoothly” year-round.

This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, who may have used AI in the preparation