Russia launches its largest conscription drive in 14 years, forcibly drafting Ukrainian men in occupied territories despite international law prohibiting such actions.
At a Glance
- Russia has called up 160,000 men aged 18-30 in its largest conscription effort in 14 years
- At least 300 men from occupied Ukrainian territories were conscripted in fall 2024 alone
- Ukrainian residents must obtain Russian passports to work or study, making them eligible for draft
- Conscripts are sent to Russia for training and often deployed to the front lines
- Forced conscription in occupied territories is considered a war crime under international humanitarian law
Russia’s Unprecedented Conscription Campaign
Russia has initiated its most extensive conscription campaign in over a decade, calling up 160,000 men between the ages of 18 and 30 beginning April 10. While the Russian Defense Ministry insists this mobilization has no connection to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, evidence shows men in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories are being systematically drafted into military service. The scope of this recruitment drive represents Russia’s highest rate of military conscription in 14 years and appears designed to replenish depleted forces despite official denials.
According to documented cases, at least 300 people from occupied territories were conscripted in fall 2024 alone, including 200 from Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, and another 100 from Luhansk and Donetsk. These numbers likely represent only a fraction of the actual conscription taking place across Russian-held Ukrainian land. Military officials face increasing pressure to meet mobilization targets, particularly using men who have already completed some form of military service.
Coercive Tactics and Limited Options
Residents in occupied territories face an impossible choice: obtain a Russian passport required for employment and education, which automatically makes them eligible for conscription, or face extreme economic hardship and isolation. Without Russian identification, Ukrainians cannot access basic services, find work, or continue their education. This administrative trap forces many to accept Russian citizenship out of necessity, only to find themselves targeted for military service shortly afterward.
Once conscripted, Ukrainian men are typically transported to Russia for training, removing them from their homes and placing them under direct Russian military control. Refusal to serve can result in criminal prosecution, with the threat of imprisonment serving as a powerful deterrent against resistance. While recent cases have sometimes resulted in probation or fines rather than jail time, at least 583 criminal proceedings have been initiated in Crimea alone against those refusing military service.
Front-Line Deployment and Human Rights Violations
Despite Russian claims that conscripts will not be sent to combat zones, firsthand accounts reveal many are indeed deployed to the front lines, often after being pressured to sign military contracts. Those who manage to avoid combat assignments typically do so through connections or bribes, options unavailable to most conscripts from occupied territories. Numerous reports indicate conscripts are being used as “human shields” in dangerous operations, placing them at extraordinary risk.
Military analysts suggest Russia’s forces have suffered significant personnel losses, creating an urgent need for replacements. “They are trying to compensate for the lack of regular soldiers with men who have already completed their military service,” explains Pavlo Lysianskyi, an expert tracking Russian conscription practices. This desperation has led to increasingly aggressive recruitment tactics throughout occupied regions, with military officials facing quotas they must meet by any means necessary.
Legal Implications and International Response
Under international humanitarian law, forcing residents of occupied territories to serve in the armed forces of the occupying power constitutes a war crime. The Fourth Geneva Convention explicitly prohibits such practices, as does Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions. Human rights organizations have documented these violations extensively, calling for accountability and sanctions against Russian officials responsible for implementing forced conscription policies in Ukrainian territories.
The practice continues despite international condemnation, with Russian authorities acting with apparent impunity in areas under their control. For Ukrainian citizens trapped in occupied territories, the situation remains dire, caught between impossible choices: accept Russian documents and risk military service, or reject them and face economic devastation and potential imprisonment. Either way, basic human rights and freedoms remain severely curtailed under occupation conditions that show no signs of improving.
