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Russia Starts to Draft Mariupol Men Who Accepted Russian Passports
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![Photo of Vlad Litnarovych]( "Photo of Vlad Litnarovych")
Men in Russian-occupied Mariupol who accepted Russian citizenship are now being called up to military enlistment offices, local news outlet 0629 reported on August 11.
According to the summonses, recipients must appear at enlistment offices with identification, including their Russian passport and military service card.
The move comes as Russia’s Defense Committee chairman in the State Duma has introduced legislation to shift the country’s draft system to a year-round conscription model—from January 1 to December 31—with continuous medical exams, psychological screenings, and draft board sessions.
While these checks would run all year, recruits would still be sent to service in two waves: April 1 to July 15 and October 1 to December 31, per presidential decree.
Mariupol residents who fled to Russia after the full-scale invasion began—and later took Russian passports—have also started receiving call-up notices. Men still living under occupation in Mariupol are likewise being summoned, required to bring both passports and military IDs.
Meanwhile, reports emerged that Russian authorities have begun issuing draft notices via SMS and the government’s digital portal Gosuslugi.
Under Russian law, a notice delivered through these channels is considered officially served seven days after it’s sent.
“This means we can now say for certain that the electronic summons registry is functioning not just in Moscow, but across the regions, in full compliance with legislative amendments passed between April and August 2023,” the group said.
Under Russian law, once a summons is issued, the recipient is barred from leaving the country. Failure to report to the enlistment office within seven days can result in fines.
Those with active summonses also face restrictions on selling property, registering as self-employed or as a business owner, obtaining loans, or registering vehicles.
Earlier, reports emerged that Ukrainians forcibly conscripted into Russia’s occupying army were deliberately injuring themselves to avoid being sent into assault operations against Ukraine’s Defense Forces in the Kherson region.
