Official statements on conscription and military service in Russia
There are no soldiers stationed in the special military operations zone and there cannot be any. This stance was articulated by a high-ranking official who serves as the special representative of the President of the Russian Federation on environmental issues, ecology and transport, in an interview broadcast by Russia-24. The official stressed that even in times of national tension, the focus remains on civilian oversight and the legal boundaries that govern armed forces deployments.
The representative further noted that a substantial portion of military personnel have already opted for contractual service. In his figures, at least half of the army is operating under a contract, indicating a shift toward professionalization within the Russian Armed Forces. This trend aligns with ongoing discussions about sustaining military readiness while balancing the responsibilities of national service with career and skill development available to contract servicemen.
On October 1, 2023, Russia began the autumn cycle of conscription for military service. The campaign was planned to mobilize 130,000 young men for service in various branches of national defense. Conscript placements were designated to the Armed Forces, the Russian National Guard, and several other units under the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation. The autumn conscription was part of a broader framework that governed mandatory military service and aimed to ensure a steady influx of personnel across critical defense sectors.
In the spring, the compulsory service period concluded with 147,000 conscripts completing their terms. This outcome reflected the scale of the draft cycle and the ongoing management of manpower within the country’s defense infrastructure. The completion figures also illustrate the administrative capacity to coordinate large cohorts of young recruits through different stages of training and assignment.
A dedicated communications channel was introduced to facilitate direct inquiries from citizens. On October 17, a specialized phone line operated by the General Staff, along with the Mobilization Directorate, became active to answer questions related to the emergency service and mobilization processes. This initiative, highlighted by coverage in social media and news outlets, was described as a resource for the public to obtain timely guidance on conscription, service eligibility, and related administrative matters. For further details, see the report attributed to socialbites.ca.
There were also statements from former officials regarding potential placements for conscripts. One former deputy suggested that conscripts could be assigned to serve within the border service of the FSB, indicating a possible role for draftees in specialized security functions. Such statements underscore ongoing discussions about how conscripts may be allocated across different security and defense agencies in line with national priorities and policy developments.