mobilization briefs
July 24

Mobilization in Russia for July 22–23, 2024 CIT Volunteer Summary

Authorities and Legislation

In a second reading, the State Duma [lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia] will consider a bill regarding the "specifics of the application and enforcement of disciplinary arrest for military personnel participating in a special military operation." It would grant the right to order disciplinary arrests to commanders of military units, military police bodies and garrisons. Until now, this measure has been reserved for military courts. The new extrajudicial application would be limited to detention facilities in Ukraine and "certain areas of the Russian Federation, where martial law is in effect" [occupied areas of the Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk, Donetsk and Kherson regions]. If passed, the bill would authorize arrests for up to 10 days for each disciplinary offense and up to 15 days, in cases of multiple offenses. It would also define 20 severe disciplinary offenses, including violations of military regulations, hazing, intoxication, failure to report to a duty station on time and failure to execute orders.

Moreover, the State Duma Defense Committee proposed additional grounds for arrest as amendments to a bill, whose first reading took place in March 2023. The extended list would include, among other things, possession of an electronic device intended for "household use" during military service.  As a result, commanders would be allowed to order the disciplinary arrest for up to 10 days of individuals found in possession of a smartphone while on duty. Their use has been included in the list of "severe disciplinary offenses" since 2019, but only military courts had the right to order an arrest.

It is also proposed to send individuals to the confinement facility for posting on the internet or in the media data that can identify military personnel as belonging to the Russian Armed Forces, as well as for disseminating information about the activities of military command bodies and military units. One of the authors of the bill, Chairman of the Defense Committee of the State Duma Andrey Kartapolov, explained that this concerns "gadgets used for combat work," and the "bill is aimed at ensuring the safety of military personnel and units." This new initiative has faced harsh criticism from pro-military bloggers and Telegram channels.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defense is preparing regulations for equipping field confinement facilities, which would effectively legalize "pits" — improvised spaces where military personnel are sent for various offenses without court decisions. As noted by the Sota media outlet, the document itself has not been published, but journalists discovered from the text of a previous, unenacted draft that tents, civilian infrastructure facilities, containers, vans, or dugouts would be used for field confinement facilities.

The State Duma passed a bill in both the second and third readings that grants employers the right to provide draft offices with information about employees subject to military service, including through the Unified Military Register [the register of Russians subject to military service—a digital system to identify citizens subject to military service and serve draft notices].

Additionally, deputies passed a law protecting combat-related compensation for participation in the war with Ukraine from being seized during bankruptcy proceedings. Currently, when bankruptcy procedures are initiated, all of the debtor's assets, including combat-related compensation, are used to repay debts.

Vladimir Putin has signed a law granting police access to the medical confidentiality of Russian citizens. Now, Ministry of Internal Affairs officers will be able to obtain medical records on Russians who have served criminal sentences in places of detention. Additionally, police will gain access to the medical records of citizens with mental disorders who have been ordered by a court to undergo compulsory treatment. The law also allows the police to access the medical records of individuals under dispensary observation for chronic and prolonged mental disorders with severe and frequent exacerbations, including those suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction. Law enforcement officers will have the right to "monitor patients" and exchange data about them with medical organizations. The law will come into effect on March 1, 2025.

The Dossier Center [independent Russian investigative media outlet] has uncovered how the presidential administration plans to put culture in service of the war: officials are displeased that the war is repelling people, so they want to make it the backdrop for all art sponsored by the state. Therefore, major government funding will only go to those engaging in "ideologically correct" art.

Army Recruitment and Military Service Advertising

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin has signed a decree authorizing an additional sign-up bonus of 1.9 million rubles [$21,600] for those concluding contracts with the Ministry of Defense in Russia’s capital. The new measure will apply to residents of any region who sign up for contract-based military service through Moscow's recruitment office starting on July 23. Sobyanin announced that the total amount of payments to contract soldiers in Moscow will now reach 5.2 million rubles [$59,200] per year, clarifying that this sum includes all entitled payments, monthly allowances, and Moscow and federal support measures. The mayor added that the established monthly allowance of 50,000 rubles [$570] will remain in place. According to the Agentstvo [Agency] independent media outlet, the annual payment is equivalent to the average salary for 10 or more years in many Russian regions.

Asthe Astra Telegram channel points out, the Moscow region had already increased its sign-up bonus to 1.7 million rubles [$19,400] on June 11. Previously, the region paid 605,000 rubles [$6,890] for signing a contract.

The authorities in the Volgograd region have increased the sign-up bonus from 300,000 rubles [$3,420] to 800,000 rubles [$9,110]. Thus, including the federal payment, the total amount of payments has risen to 1 million rubles [$11,400].

The government of Bashkortostan [Russia's constituent republic] has limited the period for the increased sign-up bonus of 505,000 rubles [$5,750] for those who sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense until Aug. 31. Starting from Sept. 1, the sign-up bonus will return to the level of 205,000 rubles [$2,340].

The authorities of Russia’s constituent Republic of Tatarstan attract people to the local Batyr battalion using "inspiring" stories of people who have signed the contract. The emphasis is on patriotism, but large payments are also mentioned. In one such story, a young man talks about his decision to sign the contract to rebuild his burnt-down house. He also notes that "the conditions of contract-based military service have become even more attractive." Recently, the republic increased the size of the one-time payment to 1.5 million rubles [$17,100].

Yana Gayduk, the former head of the State Committee for Youth Affairs of Bashkortostan suspected of exceeding official powers, has applied to be selected for service in the "special military operation" zone. Gayduk is under house arrest until Aug. 9.

In Samara, law enforcement officers conducted a raid to identify illegal migrants among drivers. During the raid, officers of the Military Investigative Department identified 14 former migrants among the drivers who had evaded military registration. The violators were taken to a draft office and charged with a misdemeanor for failing to fulfill military registration duties.

Mobilized Soldiers, Volunteer Fighters and Contract Soldiers

The list of mobilized soldiers killed in the war has been updated to include Sergey Russ from the Rostov region, Sergey Brigeman from the Krasnodar region, as well as Dinar Timofeev and Azat Timirov from Russia's constituent Republic of Tatarstan.

The mobilized and contract soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the 1st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 2nd Taman Motorized Rifle Division have recorded a video address saying that they refused to follow the order to go on a suicide assault mission. According to the soldiers, their commander had explicitly told them that their mission was to "pave the way with their bodies for those who come after." For their refusal, the soldiers were locked in a guarded dugout. The men reported that they had been in the forward positions since January without rotation or leave and that the commanders did not provide them with the necessary gear and electronic warfare equipment, saying that they receive high salaries and can afford to buy everything they need. The soldiers suspect that the command is stealing military property. They demand that the commanders respect the legal rights of the soldiers and stop exceeding their authority.

A new video circulating online shows a man bearing signs of torture, in which he allegedly confesses to collaborating with Ukrainian forces. The 42-year-old native of Novokuznetsk, Yury Pushkaryov, claimed that he signed a contract with the Russian Armed Forces after being recruited by the Ukrainians, receiving $1,000 for this alleged cooperation. Additionally, he asserts that he was given another $50,000 in cash through a friend in Moscow for spending two months at the front. This same video later appeared on the pro-Russian Spetsnaz Novorossiyi [Special Forces of Novorossiya] Telegram channel, which captioned it with the claim that the "traitor" was identified by soldiers from the 242nd Regiment. According to the russia no context Telegram channel, the man was "executed by his own side.” In early April, an obituary for Pushkaryov emerged, stating that he died on March 24 in a hospital from injuries sustained while on a mission. A close acquaintance of Pushkaryov told Vazhnyye Istorii [IStories, independent Russian investigative media outlet] that he was indeed injured and was supposed to be sent to the hospital, but instead, under torture, he was forced to confess to his alleged crimes under threats of murdering his family.

Sentences, Legal Proceedings and Incidents

In the Primorsky region [Russia's federal subject], a man who identified himself as a "special military operation" veteran assaulted several women with a crutch. The incident occurred on July 20 in a cafe in the city of Artyom. The war participant was taken to the police station along with the victims. There, he showed the officers his combat veteran certificate and filed a complaint against one of the assaulted women. The victims also filed complaints. According to the Sirena [Siren] Telegram channel, based on published videos and photos, Artur Zhukov (Zhurin), a 37-year-old resident of the Primorsky region, may have been involved in the attack. According to Astra, the man served in the 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade. Mediazona [independent Russian media outlet] found that the attacker had already been convicted twice for assault, one of which resulted in a person's death, and for going AWOL.

In Volgograd, Sberbank [Russia's largest bank] security service and the Volgograd police have detained a former mercenary for attempting to break into an ATM. Ivan B., a 29-year-old man with two previous convictions, was detained on suspicion of the crime. After the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he signed a contract and was deployed to the frontline from the penal colony.

A resident of Kolomna has been detained on suspicion of arson on the railway. The incident occurred on the night of July 20 at a station in the Kolomensky district, where two relay cabinets were broken into. One was completely burned out, while the other did not catch fire. Several hours later, law enforcement officers detained 24-year-old Maksim S. The detainee is charged with an act of terror committed in a group in conspiracy. He faces up to 20 years in prison.

The Federal Security Service claims to have thwarted a terrorist attack in the Belgorod region. According to law enforcement officers, unnamed residents of the city of Mariupol allegedly planned to set fire to a mosque in Belgorod. The detainees have reportedly confessed, stating that the arson plan originated from Ukraine.

In Saint Petersburg, local cycling activist German Moyzhes has been charged with treason. The details of Moyzhes's charges remain unknown. He was arrested on suspicion of treason in May of this year and placed in the Lefortovo pre-trial detention center. It is known that Moyzhes assisted Russians in obtaining German residency permits.

Children

The Alabuga Polytech college, which involves students, including minors, in the production of Shahed-136 (Geran-2) loitering munitions, has released a promotional video encouraging schoolchildren to assemble drones for the war instead of continuing their education beyond the 10th grade and pursuing higher education.

Miscellaneous

Authorities of the Belokalitvinsk district in the Rostov region have shown a sample of a fake "draft notice." According to officials, scammers delivered these counterfeit “notices,” instructing recipients to bring a duffel bag, personal hygiene items, and report to the draft office for military training. Once there, the scammers would then offer a "solution" to the supposed problem.

Longreads

The Vot Tak [Like This] media outlet interviewed the wives of soldiers, discussing how they travel to the frontline to see their husbands and their impressions of what they witnessed there.