Mobilization in Russia for Nov. 22-24, 2024 CIT Volunteer Summary
Authorities and Legislation
Vladimir Putin has signed a bill into law that requires creditors to write off overdue loans, if the debtor enlists to fight in the war against Ukraine. The measure, capped at 10 million rubles [$97,800], applies only to debts on credit agreements, where a court decision or enforcement proceedings for collection already exist by Dec. 1. From that date onwards, debtors concluding a contract with the Ministry of Defense for a period exceeding one year, as well as their spouses, become eligible. Conscripts and mobilized soldiers can also benefit if they enlist, but current contract soldiers cannot. Experts interviewed by Vazhnyye Istorii [IStories, independent Russian investigative media outlet] believe this is a new method to motivate socially vulnerable groups to sign contracts.
Army Recruitment and Military Service Advertising
Echo [Russian-language online media outlet] reports that the Russian government has issued a classified decree reducing the list of organizations authorized to secure mobilization exemption certificates for their employees. Undisclosed sources at several companies confirmed that all previously issued certificates will remain valid only until March 21, 2025. After that date, the procedure for reserving employees from Russian enterprises will follow new rules outlined in a government decree dated June 5. This document has not been made publicly available and is marked "for official use only."
Police conducted a raid targeting conscription-age men at the dormitory of the Tchaikovsky Moscow State Conservatory. Early on Friday morning, officers detained Daniil, a 26-year-old fifth-year student, and two of his roommates, directly in their dorm room. Officers took them to the Tverskoy draft office, where the young men spent over seven hours. Daniil says he was released later that day without his passport, after officials served him with a draft notice summoning him again on Nov. 25.
Medic Aleksandr Anisimov, who caused a fatal car crash in the city of Chelyabinsk while driving under the influence of alcohol, has signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense, reportedly as someone with a "necessary profession." The investigation into his criminal case is expected to be suspended soon.
According to the Financial Times, Russia has deceived hundreds of Yemeni Houthis into fighting against Ukraine. Sources told the publication that a company linked to the Houthis promised them high-paying jobs and even Russian citizenship. Upon arrival in Russia, they were forcibly sent to the frontline. Journalists believe the recruitment began as early as July this year. Several hundred individuals were involved, with promises of a $2,000 monthly salary and an additional $10,000 bonus. Some of these recruits have reportedly already been killed.
Mobilized Soldiers, Volunteer Fighters and Contract Soldiers
Four servicemen were held in cages for ten days at a military unit near Novosibirsk, where a recent mutiny occurred, according to a source cited by the Astra Telegram channel. "They went to the canteen in handcuffs, even ate in handcuffs," one serviceman revealed. Currently, the man and three of his fellow soldiers are located in the town of Yurga, Kemerovo region, and have been assigned to the 74th Motorized Rifle Brigade, where a new regiment of "sick" soldiers is being formed. The soldier claimed that some of the men in the unit have hepatitis and other illnesses, yet repeated requests for a medical evaluation board have been denied. He also confirmed that Lieutenant Aleksandr Andreyev, who lost his ability to speak after being wounded, and was mentioned in earlier summaries, is now in the city of Rostov.
Parents of six conscripts from Chuvashia [Russiaâs constituent republic], who were pressured by commanders of the 90th Tank Division stationed in Chebarkul to sign contracts disguised as documents required for service at the Chebarkul garrison, have shared details with the 74.RU [Chelyabinsk city online media outlet]. According to them, the signing took place on Oct. 20-21, on the very first day the young men arrived at the garrison. For about three weeks, the conscripts tried to terminate the contracts on their own by filing reports, but to no avail. Additionally, in early November, they all started receiving large payments into their accounts. The amounts varied significantly: some received 400,000 rubles [$3,910], others 1 million rubles [$9,780], and others 2.1 million rubles [$20,500]. According to the bank statements provided by the conscriptsâ relatives, the payments were made from various regions, including the Altai Republic. This is far from the first instance of conscripts being forced to sign contracts at the Chebarkul garrison.
Valentin Takachyov, a resident of the Magadan region sentenced to 16 years in prison for five crimes, including murder, has returned from the war to his village. In the early hours of Feb. 23, 2023, during a drunken argument, he brutally assaulted and then strangled his girlfriend, Ekaterina Penetegina, with whom he had a child. A two-year-old boy was present in the apartment at the time of the murder. To cover up the crime, Takachyov set fire to the apartment and fled with his son. There is no exact data on the time of his recruitment from the penal colony. Approximately, he was deployed to the frontline in the spring after serving less than a year in the penal colony. In October 2024, local residents spotted Takachyov in his home village, where he had returned after being injured in the war.
Sentences, Legal Proceedings and Incidents
According to Astra, Yevgeny Molaev, a serviceman of the 15th Motorized Rifle Brigade, has been detained on suspicion of rape in Nytva, Perm region [Russiaâs federal subject]. According to preliminary information, he had escaped from a hospital in Brianka, Luhansk region, where he was recovering from an injury. Molaev has been convicted at least eight times, including for murder, theft and grievous bodily harm.
A court in Yekaterinburg has remanded a serviceman from Kurgan Aleksey Ryzhkov in custody for two months. He is suspected of murdering two people, including his ex-girlfriend. During the hearing, Ryzhkov, who has a prior criminal record with three convictions, confessed to the murders and requested to return to the war in Ukraine.
A court in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous RegionâYugra [Russia's federal subject] has ordered those responsible for the murder of sailor Ivan Kuvaytsev to pay his family 4.8 million rubles [$47,000] in compensation. The accident occurred on July 9, 2023, in Novorossiysk, when Corporal Usov, being intoxicated by drugs, fatally shot Kuvaytsev with an assault rifle. Efforts to save the sailor were unsuccessful. Usov was sentenced to 12 years in prison. The sailor's family filed a lawsuit against the Ministry of Defense and Usov, arguing that the officer in charge of issuing weapons should have detected Usov's drug impairment and removed him from duty. They also noted that Usov had a prior record of drug use, which the military unit had ignored. The family sought 20 million rubles [$195,600] in moral damages, but the court only partially granted the claim.
New criminal cases related to "terrorism" against Ukrainian citizens, including military personnel and a civilian, have been submitted to the Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don. Among them is 78-year-old Ivan Ganziya, a native of the Starobilsk town, Luhansk region, who allegedly joined the Aidar assault battalion. A similar case has been submitted to the court against Ukrainian citizen Yevgeny Shogin, who, according to the investigation, also participated in combat operations as part of the Aidar battalion in 2014. Yevgeny Kapustyan is accused of participating in a "terrorist" community and undergoing relevant training as he allegedly fought as part of the Azov Brigade. Similar charges have been brought against Viktor Pavlenko, who, according to published documents, served in the Azov Brigade prior to the outset of the full-scale war A criminal case on charges of terrorism and illegal arms trafficking has been resubmitted to the court against Andrey Serezhenko, a civilian sailor. In December 2022, information was made public indicating that he had been kidnapped by officers of the Federal Security Service (FSB) in the city of Kherson.
Children
In the city of Reutov, Moscow region, Aliasom Avidzba, deputy commander of the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, which is better known as "Pyatnashka," has visited senior students at a lyceum. In his speech, Avidzba explicitly emphasized the importance of engaging in combat operations and noted that there are individuals who have recently graduated from school among the servicemen on the frontline.
Miscellaneous
In the Sverdlovsk region, a festive ice town will be constructed in the center of the city of Kamensk-Uralsky under the theme "Glory to the Russian Warrior-Victors" by the New Year.
Residents of a third border district in the Kursk region demand the resignation of its headâVladimir Zaitsev, head of the Bolshesoldatsky district. He is accused of ignoring incidents of looting. Previously, the heads of two other districts were also expected to step down, but reports indicated they continued to serve in their roles.
On Nov. 24, the Kursk regional government announced that within 12 days, residents had submitted 23,918 applications for housing certificates. Additionally, 2,473 individuals filed claims for reimbursement of rental expenses. On Nov. 13, Aleksey Smirnov, Governor of the Kursk region, and former Governor of the Kursk region Roman Starovoyt issued the first two certificates to military wives with multiple children.
Longreads
The Sever.Realii [part of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty] online media outlet explores the dynamics of dating groups for military personnel. Women seek âreal protectorsâ but often encounter fraud and deception. Meanwhile, military men accuse some women of attempting to exploit their financial benefits.