Forced Mobilization Is Gaining Momentum In Russia

Authorities have begun detaining men in five more regions of the Russian Federation.

Forced mobilization is gaining momentum in Russia. New cases of men being detained and subsequently sent to fight in the war against Ukraine have been reported in Udmurtia, the Krasnodar Krai, the Arkhangelsk Oblast, the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, and Buryatia, according to the project “Idite Lesom”. From August 10 to 18, human rights activists received a total of 14 reports from relatives of those affected. The men were taken from the street, from work, and after being detained by the police. One was seized as he was leaving a store, another while returning from an alumni reunion, and a third was taken to a police station ostensibly to have his documents checked.

In Izhevsk, a man was detained on the street on August 10 and taken to the military registration and enlistment office. Three days later, he was already being transported to a military unit in the Rostov Region. In another case in Udmurtia, relatives were unable to prevent a man who was under psychiatric care from being sent to the Donetsk region: the relevant insert was removed from his military ID, after which he was removed from the registry and forced to sign a contract.

In Novorossiysk, a detainee was beaten at the police station and, according to his sister, had drugs planted on him; he was then offered a choice between a criminal case carrying a sentence of up to 20 years and being sent to war. In the end, he signed the contract and was taken to a military unit.

In the Arkhangelsk region, a man was detained for drinking alcohol in a public place. The next day, his relatives learned that he had signed a contract and was being prepared to be sent to war.

A similar situation occurred with a 62-year-old man who had health issues and an exemption from mobilization obtained through his job. According to his relatives, within a few hours of his detention, his passport and military ID were issued so he wouldn’t be allowed to go home to retrieve his documents, and he was taken to Crimea.

Forced mobilization is also continuing in Omsk. Human rights activists have reported at least two new cases. One man was taken directly from work and held at the police station. Ultimately, according to his relatives, the police signed a contract on his behalf. Another was stopped near a store by people in civilian clothing under the pretext of a drug test, after which he was sent for a medical examination. The man claimed he had not signed a contract, but he was taken out of the region anyway.

Earlier reports had emerged of forced mobilization in Penza and Ulyanovsk. “Idi Lesom” advises relatives of those detained to determine their whereabouts as quickly as possible and verify any documents they have signed. The project also recommends documenting the circumstances of the detention, the names of the officers involved, phone calls, and correspondence, and seeking help before the person is sent to another region or military unit.

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