The Russian Federation’s Ministry of Defense answered a formal inquiry initiated by Nina Ostanina, the chair of the State Duma Committee on Family, Women and Children, regarding the holiday schedule for mobilized service members assigned to participate in a special military operation. The response was shared through official channels as part of a detailed report.
The publication notes that the Ministry of Defense provided information on the requested leave for mobilized troops slated for the NVO. The core message confirms that troops who have been mobilized will be granted a minimum of 14 days of mandatory leave at least once every six months. This break is intended to give service members an opportunity for rest, family time, and recuperation away from the stresses of deployment. The calculation of this leave period excludes travel time to and from the holiday location, ensuring that the mandatory days are counted as official time off rather than transit days.
The planning, scheduling, and provisioning of these holidays are described as responsibilities shared by the Chief of Staff and the headquarters of the respective military unit. These bodies retain authority to adjust leave permissions in response to the operational situation in the area of the special operation. Such flexibility is emphasized as essential to maintaining readiness while recognizing the personal needs of those mobilized to serve.
The ministry notes that information about the exact rotation of individual fighters cannot be disclosed publicly due to classification. This restriction aligns with standard security practices and is intended to protect operational secrecy while still communicating the general framework for leave and rest cycles to the public and lawmakers.
Earlier, Deputy Yana Lantratova, a member of the State Duma, submitted a proposal to Deputy Minister of Defense Ruslan Tsalikov requesting an extension of the mobilized personnel’s leave up to 30 calendar days. The discussion of such a proposal reflects ongoing parliamentary interest in balancing military obligations with the well-being of service members and their families. The dialogue underscores a broader concern about ensuring that those who are mobilized have meaningful opportunities for respite, particularly when deployments are prolonged or occur under challenging conditions.
In this context, the former member of parliament indicated that mobilized individuals could take unplanned leave when it is compatible with operational needs. This statement highlights a real-world approach to managing leave, one that accommodates spontaneous family or personal events while preserving mission readiness. The overall framework aims to provide predictable, humane leave policies within the constraints of inevitable military priorities and strategic imperatives in the NVO zone.
Observers note that the interaction between legislative oversight and military administration is an ongoing process. The ministry’s remarks reiterate the principle that while the specific timing of every deployment cycle remains classified, a stable baseline of rest periods exists and is subject to adjustment as situations on the ground evolve. This balance between transparency and operational security is a recurring theme in discussions about mobilization policy and the welfare of service members and their families.
Ultimately, the announcement reinforces that the defense ministry seeks to ensure that mobilized personnel receive regular, protected time for rehabilitation and connection with loved ones. The policy translates into a practical guarantee: scheduled leave, overseen by senior staff, with flexibility built in to respond to changing military needs, ensuring both the effectiveness of missions and the humanity of those who answer the call to serve.