Roundups to force men into the war are surging again in Russia. Families in Omsk and other cities say men are being seized off the streets.
Roundups of men forced to sign contracts with the Defense Ministry and then sent to fight in Ukraine have become more frequent again in Russia.
New roundups are occurring in Russia to force men into the war in Ukraine. Families in Omsk and other cities report men are being taken off the streets and subjected to violence. Opposition activists in Omsk flagged reviews of the Sirius-55 military recruitment center on the mapping service 2GIS, noting complaints about men being picked up randomly.
Journalists investigated these complaints and found more recent incidents, with similar reports emerging from other regions across Russia, including Arkhangelsk, Kemerovo, and Novosibirsk. The surge in complaints indicates the continued practice of forcing men to sign contracts for military service. In Omsk, detained men are first sent to Sirius for contract soldiers, which may allow them time to seek help while being processed.
However, this intermediate stop might also lead to larger roundups. Lawyers handling these cases lack detailed information, but basic safety rules are advised, such as recording interactions and filing complaints with authorities.
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