Disruption of Military Service Norms in Russia Amid Conflict

Changes in Military Service Practices in Russia

For over twenty years, it has been a well-established norm in Russia that new conscripts, fulfilling their mandatory military service, are not deployed to the front lines. This practice is not only enshrined in law but also widely supported by parents who wish to protect their sons from the brutal realities of warfare.

However, the unexpected Ukrainian incursion into the southwestern Russian region of Kursk has dramatically disrupted this longstanding agreement. On August 6, when Ukrainian forces advanced into Russian territory, Moscow was caught off guard. The conflict that had previously seemed distant suddenly encroached upon the conscripts, who were stationed at lightly defended posts near the border.

In the chaos that ensued, hundreds of conscripts were taken captive, and there are reports of many others missing or potentially deceased. This situation has raised significant concerns about the safety and treatment of young soldiers.

The issue of military deployment has always been a sensitive topic for President Vladimir V. Putin. The Kremlin’s decisions in the past to send young, untrained soldiers into the fray during the wars in Afghanistan and Chechnya sowed seeds of domestic dissent that ultimately pressured the government to withdraw from those conflicts.

During the tumultuous early days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when it became apparent that several hundred newly drafted soldiers were inadvertently included in units that crossed into Ukraine, President Putin took immediate action. He ordered military leaders to ensure these conscripts were returned home safely.

“Only professional military personnel will carry out the assigned tasks,” Mr. Putin asserted during a national television address at that time, underscoring his commitment to protecting the lives of young conscripts amid the ongoing conflict.