The Ukrainian Hochu Zhit [I Want to Live] project published a list of 1,059 students at Russian universities who, the project claims, signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense while still enrolled. According to the project, more than half are in their first or second year, and about 80% are ages 18 to 21. Most of those enlisting are students at regional universities, technical schools and colleges who have either just enrolled or are midway through their studies. The Astra Telegram channel verified the identities of 47 of them and spoke with two mothers whose sons are on the list; both confirmed information about their sons. Four other families indirectly confirmed certain details but declined to speak.
The Russian Society of Psychiatrists updated clinical guidelines on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among other things, the document sets recommended timelines for rotating personnel, aimed at preventing depletion of adaptive resources and lowering the risk of PTSD. In the group’s view, troops on the frontline should be relieved every six months, and every three months if possible. During sustained active combat, relief is needed after two weeks; after heavy losses, relief is needed after only a few days. Members also propose identifying signs of a complex disorder that differs sharply from ordinary "civilian" PTSD in service members. These include persistent disturbances in emotional regulation, negative self-perception, a sense...
Eleven of the 12 lawmakers withdrew their signatures from a bill that would have ended draftees’ right to suspend a conscription order while their case was pending in court. Lawyer Kaloy Akhilgov noted that the bill now lists only Yury Shvytkin as its author. He died shortly after submitting the bill. Amendments to the procedure for appealing draft board decisions were introduced in March. Under current law, if a person liable for military service appeals a draft board decision, the conscription order cannot be enforced while proceedings are pending. The lawmakers had proposed requiring a separate court ruling to suspend the order.
Private companies are now allowed to purchase large-caliber weapons and equipment to defend against drone attacks, RBC [Russian media group] reported, citing sources. Russian authorities approved a mechanism allowing businesses to acquire turrets, anti-aircraft artillery systems, radar equipment, motor vehicles and electronic warfare systems, among other items, to equip mobile fire teams. Most regions in the European part of Russia are now forming new teams. One RBC source said private companies will immediately transfer the weapons and equipment they buy to military units. The Ministry of Industry and Trade has also compiled a catalog of passive protection equipment recommended for businesses, although private companies have long been...
Vladimir Putin signed several bills into law: a bill that gives him the ability to send military personnel abroad to protect Russians if they are arrested
Authorities in the Sverdlovsk region have reduced the sign-up bonus for signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense by 200,000 rubles [$2,810]. Beginning on May 23, new recruits will receive 2.5 million rubles [$35,100] instead of the 2.7 million rubles [$37,900] established at the start of the year. Including the federal payment of 400,000 rubles [$5,610], contract soldiers in the Sverdlovsk region will now be eligible to receive a total of 2.9 million rubles [$40,700].
Authorities in the Voronezh region have stepped up recruitment into the mobilization reserve to form the BARS-Voronezh volunteer unit, which will protect the region's critical infrastructure from drone attacks. Officials plan to recruit men 65 or younger into the unit, including employees of private security companies. According to a document obtained by journalists, authorities need at least 40 "trained citizens—private security company employees" to guard facilities. Unit members will undergo training once a quarter in sessions of up to six days and once every six months in 15-day sessions. After training, they will guard critical infrastructure sites on 45-day rotational deployments. Volunteers will retain their jobs and regular pay...
The Prosecutor General's Office has prepared a new draft order on organizing oversight to protect the rights of participants in combat operations and members of their families. The document tells prosecutors they must ensure "continuous supervisory support" for appeals, ascertain the full scope of a complainant's problems rather than only the specific grievance, and secure full restoration of violated rights. If a complaint involves failure to pay monetary allowances, denial of benefits due to the service member, problems with the military medical board, delayed discharge, or failure to grant leave or to issue a combat veteran certificate, prosecutors must examine not only the individual service member's situation but also conditions...
Vladimir Putin signed a decree introducing uniform basic support measures for participants in the full-scale war against Ukraine, fighters who have served in "DPR" and "LPR" formations since 2014, and their family members. The document recommends that regions provide these groups with a uniform set of benefits and guarantees, including discounted access to cultural and sports facilities, subsidies of at least 100,000 rubles [$1,370] for residential gas connections, priority for employment and additional vocational training, and assistance in starting a business. Additional benefits include free legal, psychological and medical assistance, priority access to social services, preferential school admissions for children, free meals for...
The State Duma [lower house of Russia's Federal Assembly] unanimously passed amendments to the citizenship and defense laws in their second and third readings, which allow the president to send military personnel abroad "to protect" Russians in the event of their arrest. Lawmakers took a total of two minutes to pass the legislation, without any questions, discussion or amendments. The document proposes involving the Russian Armed Forces "in carrying out tasks using weapons outside their intended purpose" to protect Russian citizens facing prosecution based on decisions by foreign and international courts whose jurisdiction is not based on a treaty with Russia or a UN Security Council resolution. Existing legislation already gives...