Edith Hejberg
One man was told he couldn’t return abroad because his name appeared on a military registry list.
Passengers arriving at major Russian airports are now being stopped by authorities and handed military conscription notices. The practice, first reported in late November, marks a new phase in the Kremlin’s efforts to fill military ranks, with naturalized citizens especially targeted.
New migration control points introduced
On November 19, Russia’s Interior Ministry set up 12 new “migration control” stations. These were officially intended to flag immigration violations, but are now being used to identify Russian citizens with incomplete military documentation.
Draft notices issued on arrival
According to Ukrainian outlet United24 Media, these checkpoints are actively issuing draft summonses to men as soon as they land.
The process bypasses traditional bureaucratic channels, effectively turning airports into conscription hubs.
State TV footage shows real-time conscription
Russia’s Vesti Ural broadcast scenes from Koltsovo Airport in Yekaterinburg showing passengers stopped and served with military summonses.
One man was told he couldn’t return abroad because his name appeared on a military registry list.
Legal obligations apply, return tickets ignored
Vesti Ural reported that even passengers who arrive with return tickets are not exempt.
“He may have arrived from abroad, but on paper he is a Russian citizen – and that means mandatory military registration,” the broadcast stated.
Penalties for non-compliance
Airport officials are now authorized to issue fines of up to 30,000 rubles (approximately €330) to men who fail to comply.
Military registration is compulsory, and the new policy reinforces consequences for neglecting it.
Media denies extreme claims
Pro-government outlets have pushed back against criticism, claiming the process is more regulated than reported.
They insist summonses are only delivered at official checkpoints, not “at the plane’s door,” and that travel bans don’t apply automatically.
Naturalized citizens under special scrutiny
Human rights observers say naturalized citizens, especially those perceived as having fewer legal protections, are being disproportionately targeted. The draft summonses seem to focus on those least able to contest them.
Racial profiling suspected
Timofey Vaskin from the School of the Conscript human rights group notes a concerning trend. Men of “non-Slavic appearance” are often singled out, under the assumption that they lack the resources or legal knowledge to resist conscription.
Authorities face staffing shortages
Despite growing enforcement, Vaskin says the government can’t stop everyone. “The Interior Ministry and military offices are severely understaffed,” he noted, suggesting that while troubling, the crackdown isn’t yet total or nationwide.
Broader pattern of surveillance
The airport measures follow similar incidents reported in October.
At the time, civil rights groups warned of draft-aged men being detained in the Moscow metro, identified using the city’s facial recognition surveillance system.
Human rights groups raise alarm
Organisations like the Civil Alliance of Russia have tracked a pattern of aggressive recruitment tactics.
Rights advocates warn that these efforts reflect increasing state control and erosion of civil freedoms.
A warning sign, not yet collapse
While the new airport summonses point to a tightening grip on military-aged men, Experts like Vaskin stress this is not yet a systemic collapse. However, they do see it as part of a broader, more repressive shift in domestic policy.
