A group of members of the State Duma and Senate [lower house and upper house of Russia's Federal Assembly, respectively] has prepared several related bills, which would allow Rosgvardia [the National Guard of Russia] to muster volunteer fighter units, granting it similar powers to the Ministry of Defense. Rosgvardia would contract soldiers "for defensive purposes during periods of mobilization, martial law, in case of an armed conflict or a counter-terrorism operation." Alexander Khinshtein, a member of the State Duma and one of the authors, emphasized that the legislative initiative is not connected to the rumors of integrating former units of the Wagner Group into Rosgvardia. Earlier, Vazhnyye Istorii [IStories, independent Russian...
Andrey Kartapolov, Chairman of the Defense Committee of the State Duma [lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia], announced that the conversion to a digital military registration system is two thirds complete, adding that the regular conscription campaign could follow new rules by next spring already. Just yesterday however, Oleg Kachanov, Deputy Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, stated that the unified register of Russians subject to military service will become fully operational only in 2025.
In May 2023, Maksut Shadayev, Minister of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media, stated that the unified register of Russians subject to military service wouldsee initial use during the regular conscription campaign this fall. Now, his deputy Oleg Kachanov is saying that the registry will become fully operational only in 2025, because its creation requires investing into infrastructure, communication channels and means to secure them.
The federal government decided to support a bill, which would extend the application of sections of the criminal code covering crimes against military service to volunteer fighters. The bill’s author is Andrey Kartapolov, Chairman of the Defense Committee of the State Duma [lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia]. If passed, volunteer fighters might face criminal charges for desertion, going AWOL, surrendering voluntarily and damaging or losing military property, similarly to regular servicemen.
Volunteer fighters willing to join the war with Ukraine could earn 1,595,000 rubles [$16,477] in one year if they sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense in the Khanty-Mansi autonomous region–Yugra [Russia's federal subject]. The sum includes sign-up bonuses paid by the Ministry of Defense and regional government of 195,000 rubles [$2014] and 400,000 rubles [$4,132], respectively. Additionally, the regional government promises a bonus of 100,000 rubles [$1,033] paid at the time of discharge from service. Beyond these bonuses, people who enlist would earn a salary of 150,000 rubles [$1550] every two months during a one-year period.
Andrey Kartapolov, Chairman of the Defense Committee of the State Duma [lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia], indicated that mobilized soldiers will not return home before the war ends. They are entitled to a leave of absence for every six months of service, but no rotation is planned, he commented. As recently as Sept. 9, however, Kartapolov was saying that they would be replaced with contract soldiers, which were being recruited throughout the year.
The State Duma [lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia] will be considering a bill to prohibit selling arms to new citizens within five years of their naturalization. Its authors argue that the bill would address the "challenges and threats to the security of the state" arising from the conduct of the "special military operation." According to them, the 5-year period is needed to "effectively assess the integrity of the legal relationship between the person, who was granted citizenship," and the Russian Federation.
The Ministry of Defense published a list of illnesses and disabilities, which preclude contract-based military service during times of mobilization or martial law. It includes, among others, hepatitis B and C, HIV, active tuberculosis, missing limbs, asthma and type 1 diabetes. The Voyennye Advokaty [Military Lawyers] Telegram channel reminds servicemen, who are already under contract, that they will not be able to resign, however, even if they suffer from one of the listed conditions. The new directive only regulates recruitment, whereas the decree, which proclaimed partial mobilization, continues to define the grounds for resignation.
At the Eastern Economic Forum, President Putin was asked whether a new wave of mobilization was likely. He did not answer the question directly, but stated instead that 300,000 people were mobilized during the "partial" mobilization. He added that 270,000 volunteers enlisted in the last six or seven months and that 1,000-1,500 people sign contracts every day.
Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to grant a monthly allowance to military pensioners who have entered into contracts to participate in the war in Ukraine or were mobilized after the beginning of the full-scale invasion. This will compensate the full amount of their pension payments, which are suspended by law upon enlistment or mobilization.