Conscription for military service is the involvement of citizens established by law for the performance of military duty (conscription) in the ranks of the armed forces and other troops; an integral part of the recruitment of the armed forces with personnel.
In accordance with the Federal Law "On Military Duty and Military Service" (1998), male citizens aged 18 to 27 years old who are on military registration or not, but are obliged to be on military registration and are not in reserve, are subject to conscription.
Citizens who are exempt from military duty, conscription, citizens who have been granted a deferral from conscription, as well as citizens who are not subject to conscription are not called up for military service.
Conscription of citizens for military service is carried out on the basis of decrees of the President of the Russian Federation.
The decision on conscription of citizens for military service can be made only after they reach the age of 18.
The term of conscription military service in the Russian army since 2008 is 12 months (for all branches of the armed forces).
Conscription of citizens who are not in reserve is carried out twice a year from April 1 to July 15 and from October 1 to December 31, with the following exceptions:
- — citizens living in certain areas of the Far North or certain localities equated to the regions of the Far North are called up for military service from May 1 to July 15 or from November 1 to December 31. The list of the specified areas and localities, as well as the terms of conscription of citizens living in these areas and localities, are determined by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation;
- — citizens living in rural areas and directly engaged in sowing and harvesting are called up for military service from October 15 to December 31;
- — citizens who are teaching staff of educational organizations are called up for military service from May 1 to July 15.
Citizens who are recognized as limited fit for military service for health reasons; who are undergoing or have completed military service in the Russian Federation; who are undergoing or have completed alternative civil service; who have completed military service in another state in cases provided for by international treaties of the Russian Federation are exempt from conscription.
Citizens have the right to exemption from conscription for military service:
- — having an academic degree provided for by the state system of scientific certification;
- — who are the sons (siblings) of military personnel who passed military service on conscription, who died (died) in connection with the performance of their duties of military service, and citizens who passed military training, who died (died) in connection with the performance of their duties of military service during the period of military training; as well as who are sons (siblings) citizens who died as a result of injury (injury, injury, contusion) or illness received in connection with the performance of their duties of military service during the period of military service on conscription, after dismissal from military service or after deduction from military training or the end of military training.
Citizens who are serving a sentence in the form of compulsory labor, correctional labor, restriction of liberty, arrest or imprisonment; who have an outstanding or outstanding criminal record for committing a crime; in respect of whom an inquiry or preliminary investigation is being conducted or a criminal case against which has been referred to court are not subject to conscription for military service.
Citizens deemed unfit for military service for health reasons are exempt from performing military duty.
A deferral from conscription for up to one year is granted to citizens who are temporarily unfit for military service for health reasons.
Also, persons who are engaged in permanent care of immediate relatives, who are guardians of minor brothers or sisters, fathers raising a child without a mother, a disabled child under the age of three, having two or more children or having a child and a wife whose pregnancy is at least 26 weeks can take advantage of a deferral from conscription.
The reason for obtaining a postponement is also admission to the service of the internal affairs bodies, the State Fire Service, institutions and bodies of the penal enforcement system, compulsory enforcement of the Russian Federation and the customs authorities of the Russian Federation immediately after graduation from educational institutions of higher education. A deferral is also granted to those who have entered the National Guard of the Russian Federation immediately after graduation from educational institutions of higher education.
Election of a conscript to the State Duma of the Russian Federation, as well as legislative (representative) bodies of state power of the subjects of the Russian Federation, deputies of representative bodies or heads of municipalities, as well as registration as a candidate of the election campaign (for a period up to the day of the official publication of the general election results inclusive, and in case of early retirement – until day of departure inclusive).
Citizens studying full-time have the right to a deferral from conscription for military service:
- — in educational organizations on educational programs of secondary vocational education;
- — in educational organizations and scientific organizations for bachelor's, specialist's or master's degree programs; as well as for training programs of scientific and pedagogical personnel in postgraduate (adjunct), residency programs or internship programs;
- — in organizations engaged in educational activities of secondary general education;
- — successfully passed the state final certification according to the educational program of secondary general education, – for the period up to October 1 of the year of passing the specified certification;
- — those who receive full-time secondary vocational education or higher education according to educational programs aimed at training ministers and religious personnel of religious organizations in spiritual educational organizations that have a license to carry out educational activities.
Citizens from among persons who have left their place of residence on the territory of a foreign state and arrived on the territory of Russia, who have applied for recognition as an internally displaced person, also have the right to a postponement – for a period from the date of registration of the said petition until the day of its consideration, and in case of recognition as an internally displaced person, for up to three months from the date of recognition internally displaced persons; before acquiring citizenship of the Russian Federation recognized as refugees in the Russian Federation – for up to six months from the date of acquisition of citizenship of the Russian Federation.
Conscription of citizens who are not in reserve includes:
- — attendance for a medical examination, professional psychological selection and a meeting of the draft commission;
- — attendance at the time and place specified in the military commissariat's agenda for sending to the place of military service and being in the military commissariat before the start of military service.
Conscription for military service is organized by military commissariats through their structural divisions and carried out by draft commissions established in municipal districts, urban districts and inner-city territories of cities of federal significance by the decision of the highest official of the subject of the Russian Federation (head of the supreme executive body of state power of the subject of the Russian Federation) on the recommendation of the military commissar.
Citizens are summoned to events related to conscription by summonses of the military commissariat.
Citizens who are not in reserve, subject to conscription for military service, are required to appear at the time and place indicated in the military commissariat's agenda for medical examination and professional psychological selection, a meeting of the draft commission or to be sent to a military unit for military service, as well as to be in the military commissariat before the start of military service.
If a citizen fails to appear without valid reasons on the summons of the military commissariat for events related to conscription, the said citizen is considered to be evading military service and is held accountable in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation.
Conscripted citizens serve in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, state security agencies and other troops.
According to the "Regulations on conscription of citizens of the Russian Federation" (2006), the decision on the assignment of a conscript to the type, branch of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is made by the draft commission on the basis of the results of medical examination, data of professional psychological selection, educational and special (professional) training, as well as the proposal of the military commissar of the municipality (municipalities) about the preliminary purpose of the conscript. At the same time, the need for the accumulation of military specialists in reserve for recruiting troops according to the mobilization plan is also taken into account.
The beginning of military service for citizens who are not in reserve, do not have military ranks and are called up for military service is considered the day of awarding the rank of private. The end of military service is considered to be the date of exclusion of a serviceman from the lists of personnel of a military unit. A serviceman must be excluded from the lists of personnel of a military unit on the day of the expiration of his military service.
In 2022, the spring recruitment campaign will begin on April 1 and last until July 15.
It is expected that 134.5 thousand Russian youths will be sent to military service this spring.
The material was prepared on the basis of information from RIA Novosti and open sources
