On Nov. 20, the State Duma [lower house of Russia’s Federal Assembly] approved a bill in its first reading that would authorize employees of the Central Bank and the Russian Association of Cash Collection to combat Ukrainian drones. The proposed legislation would grant bank personnel and cash transit guards the right to suppress attacks and prevent impending strikes involving aerial, ground, underwater, surface and other automated unmanned systems on guarded facilities within Moscow-controlled territory. Under the new rules, the Central Bank and the collection association would independently determine the protocols for neutralizing drones to defend their properties and designate the specific personnel authorized to make those decisions.
The government endorsed a bill prohibiting employers from dismissing employees returning from mobilization, military contract service, or volunteer units during periods of mobilization, martial law, or wartime. The bill would amend Article 179 of the Russian Labor Code, a statute that already prioritizes retaining disabled war veterans, workers with families, and the spouses of mobilized soldiers when qualifications are equal. The new protection would apply for one year starting from the date an employment contract resumes. Although the Cabinet approved the initiative, it requested clarification on the wording and the timeline for enactment.
The government introduced a bill to the State Duma [lower house of Russia’s Federal Assembly] that would require employers to provide 35 days of extra unpaid leave to employees who are combat veterans.
The Federation Council [upper house of Russia’s Federal Assembly] has approved a bill lowering the age of criminal liability for sabotage from 16 to 14 years. One can read more about the initiative here.
The Russian government’s legislative commission has endorsed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code that would bar the extradition of foreign citizens and stateless persons who sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense. The change would shield them from criminal prosecution or sentence execution in other countries. Experts interviewed by the independent Russian investigative media outlet Vazhnyye Istorii [IStories] suggest this move has dual aims: recruiting foreigners facing criminal prosecution abroad into the Russian Armed Forces and protecting foreign contract soldiers from liability for war crimes they may commit during their service. The government also prepared two additional bills affecting the status of these foreign...
Members of the State Duma [lower house of Russia’s Federal Assembly] proposed simplifying the admission process to military academies for applicants who failed to enroll in civilian universities, in order to address cadet shortfalls. The lawmakers suggest that if vacancies exist, applicants should be allowed to submit documents without an initial selection. This would enable these applicants to quickly become cadets. The Voyennye Advokaty [Military Lawyers] Telegram channel notes that young men automatically become "conscripted servicemen" upon entering a military academy, unlike a civilian university. Furthermore, they must sign a contract after they turn 18, though not before the end of their first year. Vazhnyye Istorii [IStories...
Vladimir Putin signed a decree expanding monthly compensation payments previously limited to contract soldiers participating in the war against Ukraine. The decree extends these payments to military personnel performing tasks "to repel an armed invasion onto Russian territory" and operating "in Russian regions bordering the zones of the special military operation." The decree takes effect immediately and is retroactive to Aug. 6, 2024.
Vladimir Putin signed the bill on "year-round conscription" into law. Conscription activities, including medical commissions and data check-ups, will now run throughout the year. The law, effective Jan. 1, 2026, will not change the existing dispatch periods, which remain from April 1 to July 15 and from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31. Furthermore, the appearance date on a draft notice posted in the Draft Register cannot exceed 30 days from its publication.
Russia's Ministry of Labor is proposing to make it easier for unemployed or job-seeking veterans of the war against Ukraine to access one-time government grants for opening their own business. The proposal involves amendments to the Law on State Social Assistance, which provides up to 350,000 rubles [$4,330] for starting a business and an additional 30,000 rubles [$370] for a three-month training course. Unlike other applicants, veterans would not need to meet a low-income requirement to secure the grant. To qualify, they would need to hold veteran status, be discharged from military service, be registered with the employment service, and obtain a recommendation from the Defenders of the Fatherland Fund. Service members with first...
The Federation Council [upper house of Russia’s Federal Assembly] approved a bill on "year-round conscription." If Putin signs it, the changes will take effect on Jan. 1, 2026.