Russia set target specific target for military recruits in 2026: in Arkhangelsk Oblast, man was sent to front after being detained for drinking on street
The School of the Conscript recorded 11 complaints in July and August.
As the Russian military continues its covert mobilization efforts to bolster its ranks for the war against Ukraine, residents of various regions have been subjected to coercion and intimidation. According to Verstka, at least 17 regions have reported instances of forcible detention, beatings, and coercion into signing contracts with the Defense Ministry.
In total, Russia has recruited 403,000 soldiers in 2025, with a target of 409,000 for 2026, as reported by Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. Companies in Russia are now required to nominate two to five employees for military service, and conscript complaints have been rising since April. In July and August alone, the School of the Conscript recorded 11 complaints, with victims hailing from Udmurtia, Primorye, Irkutsk, Ryazan, Arkhangelsk, Buryatia, and Donetsk Oblast.
The victims targeted are typically men with alcohol, drug, or mental health problems, older individuals, physically disabled men, those living alone, and those facing legal issues. Idite Lesom, a legal aid organization, has documented the coercion methods employed by recruiters, including cases where men were taken to police stations, beaten, had drugs planted on them, and forced to sign contracts.
In one notable instance, a man in Arkhangelsk Oblast was detained for drinking on the street and subsequently sent to the front lines. To combat this pressure, volunteers advise men in affected regions to grant relatives power of attorney, refrain from drinking alone, and resist signing contracts.
Written by urgent.news from Euromaidan Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
