Russian Duma Approves Year-Round Military Conscription

Duma Passes Landmark Conscription Bill

The Russian State Duma, the lower house of Russia's parliament, officially approved a bill on October 28, 2025, that mandates year-round military conscription procedures. This significant legislative change, which passed its third and final reading, is set to come into force on January 1, 2026. The new law aims to streamline the recruitment process and ensure a continuous flow of personnel into the military ranks.

New System Replaces Seasonal Drafts

Under the newly adopted legislation, conscription-related activities, including medical examinations, psychological assessments, and draft commission meetings, will now be conducted continuously throughout the year, from January 1 to December 31. This marks a departure from the previous system, which limited these procedures to traditional spring and autumn campaigns. Despite the year-round processing, the actual deployment of new recruits to military units will continue to occur twice annually, during the established periods of April 1 to July 15 and October 1 to December 31.

Rationale and Key Amendments

The bill's authors, including Andrei Kartapolov, head of the State Duma's Defense Committee, and his deputy, Andrei Krasov, stated that the reform is intended to 'ease the administrative burden' on recruitment offices and 'evenly distribute the load on conscription points.' They also claim it will 'improve the quality of recruitment' and 'streamline mobilization processes.' A notable amendment introduced during the bill's passage establishes a 30-day validity period for electronic draft notices. Previously, these notices had indefinite validity, which could restrict a conscript's freedom of movement for extended periods. Failure to report within this 30-day window will result in fines and placement on a wanted list.

Context and Implications

The introduction of year-round conscription is widely viewed by analysts as a measure to tighten mobilization efforts amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Human rights advocates have expressed concerns, suggesting that the reform effectively 'institutionalizes permanent mobilization,' potentially making it more challenging for individuals to avoid military service. All Russian men aged 18 to 30 are currently subject to one year of mandatory military service. The maximum conscription age was previously raised from 27 to 30, effective January 1, 2024.