Russia to Introduce Year-Round Conscription

Russia will introduce year-round conscription for compulsory military service starting next year.

The State Duma of the aggressor country, Russia, passed the corresponding law on Tuesday, October 28, Radio Svoboda reports.

According to the law, from now on, the selection and medical examinations for future soldiers will take place throughout the year, not just during the designated spring and autumn periods.

Meanwhile, conscripts will be sent for service, as before, twice a year: from April 1 to July 15 and from October 1 to December 31. These provisions do not apply to citizens who are in the reserve.

Previously, all conscription activities, including medical examinations, psychological assessments, and meetings of the conscription commission, took place only twice a year, during the same periods as conscripts were sent to the army.

Summonses for conscripts will now be sent throughout the year, rather than tied to a specific month.

At the same time, a deadline for reporting upon receipt of a summons is established, which may not exceed 30 days from the date it is posted in the electronic register of summonses. If this deadline is violated, the conscript will be considered a deserter and will be placed on a wanted list.

The bill’s authors explained the initiative as a desire to improve the quality of conscription.

Human rights activists believe that the authorities aim to create a continuously active infrastructure for replenishing the army.

The adopted law will come into force in Russia on January 1, 2026.

In addition, Russian lawmakers approved a law in three readings at a single session, allowing the involvement of military reservists in tasks even during peacetime.

Previously, the legislation allowed reservists to be called up only for short-term training sessions, no more than once a year. They could only be assigned to combat or guard duties during mobilization or in wartime.