Russian Army Fully Launches Digital Call-Up System to Crack Down on Draft Dodgers
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Introduction:
The news topic “Russian Army Fully Launches Digital Call-Up System to Crack Down on Draft Dodgers” has drawn international attention, with various media outlets providing diverse insights, historical context, political stances, and on-the-ground developments. Below is a curated overview of how different countries and media organizations have covered this topic recently.
Quick Summary:
- Russia launches nationwide digital military summons system to crack down on draft dodgers. President Vladimir Putin signed a law in April 2023 overhauling the country’s draft system. The system also enforces automatic travel bans for those who fail to report for duty. Under the law, men who ignore their summons face travel restrictions, driving bans and limits on loans and real estate transactions. The registry allows authorities to issue summons through the online government portal Gosuslugi.
- Many Russian soldiers and civilians are willing to pay large sums of money to avoid being sent to the front in Ukraine. On top of paying off doctors and commanders, some active duty soldiers resort to injuring themselves in the hopes of getting discharged. Military enlistment offices, meanwhile, have their own corruption schemes for those seeking to avoid conscription. Demand for evading army service has also given rise to a thriving black market, where draft dodgers can purchase forged documents, “fake surgeries,” and even get help fleeing the country. Meduza special correspondent Lilia Yapparova investigates how the authorities are cracking down in response to the growing demand for dodging conscription in the Russian army. She also looks at how the security services are responding to the rising demand for evaded conscription and how they’re cracking down on the black market.
- Kremlin and the Defense Ministry insist that Russian conscripts will not be deployed to combat. This spring’s conscription campaign will run from April 1 to July 15. Russia holds two annual conscription cycles in the spring and autumn, with men aged 18-30 eligible for service. The age cap was also raised from 27 in 2023, expanding the pool of eligible draftees. Instead of compulsory military service, men can apply for alternative civilian service, which involves full-time work. If a man fails to appear at the enlistment office within 20 days, he will face legal restrictions including a driving ban and being disqualified from taking out loans and selling or buying real estate. This system is intended to make it harder for draft-eligible men to avoid military service. With the digital database, a draft notice is automatically considered served one week after its posting.
Country-by-Country Breakdown:
Original Coverage
Russia launches nationwide digital military summons system to crack down on draft dodgers. President Vladimir Putin signed a law in April 2023 overhauling the country’s draft system. The system also enforces automatic travel bans for those who fail to report for duty. Under the law, men who ignore their summons face travel restrictions, driving bans and limits on loans and real estate transactions. The registry allows authorities to issue summons through the online government portal Gosuslugi. Read full article
‘People simply didn’t know how else to save themselves’ Meduza journalist Lilia Yapparova reports on how Russian soldiers and civilians buy their way out of going to war — Meduza
Many Russian soldiers and civilians are willing to pay large sums of money to avoid being sent to the front in Ukraine. On top of paying off doctors and commanders, some active duty soldiers resort to injuring themselves in the hopes of getting discharged. Military enlistment offices, meanwhile, have their own corruption schemes for those seeking to avoid conscription. Demand for evading army service has also given rise to a thriving black market, where draft dodgers can purchase forged documents, “fake surgeries,” and even get help fleeing the country. Meduza special correspondent Lilia Yapparova investigates how the authorities are cracking down in response to the growing demand for dodging conscription in the Russian army. She also looks at how the security services are responding to the rising demand for evaded conscription and how they’re cracking down on the black market. Read full article
So You’ve Been Drafted Into the Russian Army. What Does That Mean?
Kremlin and the Defense Ministry insist that Russian conscripts will not be deployed to combat. This spring’s conscription campaign will run from April 1 to July 15. Russia holds two annual conscription cycles in the spring and autumn, with men aged 18-30 eligible for service. The age cap was also raised from 27 in 2023, expanding the pool of eligible draftees. Instead of compulsory military service, men can apply for alternative civilian service, which involves full-time work. If a man fails to appear at the enlistment office within 20 days, he will face legal restrictions including a driving ban and being disqualified from taking out loans and selling or buying real estate. This system is intended to make it harder for draft-eligible men to avoid military service. With the digital database, a draft notice is automatically considered served one week after its posting. Read full article
Russia Delays Launch of Digital Military Summons Until 2025, Lawmaker Says
Russia’s new military draft system will go live on Jan. 1, 2025, a senior lawmaker said Monday. The new system prevents draftees from leaving the country once called up. The introduction of the new system is widely seen as an attempt to crack down on draft dodging. Media earlier reported that the draft database website was launched with delays and faced outages last week.. The electronic summonses will be tested in the Ryazan and Sakhalin regions, as well as in Mari El. The call-up papers currently need to be delivered in person and are therefore easily ignored. Read full article
Russia Test-Launches Military Summons Website
Russia has begun testing a website for its new digital military draft system. The system could prevent men from leaving the country ahead of a planned call-up later this fall. The introduction of the new system was widely seen as an attempt to crack down on draft dodging. The new website was initially scheduled for launch in three regions on Sunday, but the rollout was delayed without explanation. On Wednesday, the independent broadcaster TV Rain reported that the website was now live. Read full article
Global Perspectives Summary:
Global media portray this story through varied cultural, economic, and political filters. While some focus on geopolitical ramifications, others highlight local impacts and human stories. Some nations frame the story around diplomatic tensions and international relations, while others examine domestic implications, public sentiment, or humanitarian concerns. This diversity of coverage reflects how national perspectives, media freedom, and journalistic priorities influence what the public learns about global events.
How did your country report this? Share your view in the comments.
Sources:
- Original Article
- ‘People simply didn’t know how else to save themselves’ Meduza journalist Lilia Yapparova reports on how Russian soldiers and civilians buy their way out of going to war — Meduza
- So You’ve Been Drafted Into the Russian Army. What Does That Mean?
- Russia Delays Launch of Digital Military Summons Until 2025, Lawmaker Says
- Russia Test-Launches Military Summons Website
Source: https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/05/09/russian-army-fully-launches-digital-call-up-system-to-crack-down-on-draft-dodgers-a89031