Russian leader Vladimir Putin has signed a law introducing year-round conscription into the army, according to The Moscow Times.
Under the law, starting in 2026, conscription measures will take place from January 1 to December 31, rather than only during the current seasonal campaigns.
New recruits will still be sent to the troops during the spring and autumn draft periods — from April 1 to July 15 and from October 1 to December 31. However, draft boards and medical commissions at military enlistment offices will operate year-round.
The law also sets a maximum 30-day period to report to the enlistment office after the electronic schedule is posted in the registry.
Additionally, if a conscript loses the right to a deferment or does not receive a summons before the start of the seasonal deployment, they must personally report to the enlistment office within two weeks from the start of that period for data verification. Draft boards can also make decisions about deferments or exemptions remotely.
The law establishes new deadlines for submitting applications to replace military service with alternative civilian service. Conscripts now must apply in advance — by April 1 for the autumn draft and by October 1 for the spring draft.
Lawmakers claim the measures will “evenly distribute the workload” on enlistment offices and “improve the quality of conscription.” Experts, however, note that the new system “effectively means continuous activity of military offices, creating conditions for year-round raids, summons deliveries, and pressure on conscripts throughout the year.”
