Putin cuts list of crimes that bar Russians from military contracts
Russian leader Vladimir Putin (photo: Getty Images)
Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin has signed a federal law clarifying the list of articles in the Russian Criminal Code where a conviction or pending investigation would preclude signing a contract with the Ministry of Defense and deployment to the front, according to Russian media.
It is known that the list of crimes that would have prevented Russians from going to the front has been revised to exclude the following offenses:
- Crimes of minor and moderate gravity;
- Certain offenses related to weapons and explosives trafficking, safety violations, as well as some types of military and transport crimes.
At the same time, individuals with a conviction or pending investigation for pedophilia, terrorism, high treason, espionage, sabotage, extremism, extortion, and several other serious crimes against the state and public security remain barred from signing a contract.
The law has been published on the official legal information portal and has come into effect.
Mobilization in Russia
There are increasingly clear signs in Russia pointing to heightened mobilization readiness, and the authorities are already seeking new ways to replenish the army, as determined by Ukrainian intelligence.
One of the key signals has been a slowdown in the recruitment of contract soldiers. Additionally, the number of vacancies related to military registration has surged sharply in Russia.
It has also been reported that Russian authorities are involving security forces to forcibly send men to the front. Both physical beatings and the fabrication of criminal cases are being used to recruit people.
Representatives of US intelligence note that while these harsh measures have helped partially replenish the ranks of the occupation army, they are insufficient for making significant breakthroughs along the front line.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated: as of July 31, 2026, Russia's estimated losses in the war in Ukraine amounted to 1,600,000 personnel, of which approximately 700,000 were killed.
