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Topics: Europe, Military, Russia, Vladimir Putin, World News
Niamh Shackleton
Topics: Europe, Military, Russia, Vladimir Putin, World News
Russia is reportedly starting to issue draft notices to citizens returning to the country.
In Russia, men aged 18-30 have to serve a mandatory 12 months in the military. It used to be men up to the age of 27, but it was increased by three years in 2023.
Along with the changes in 2023 was a bigger fine for those who failed to show up at an enlistment office after they get a draft notice. It was increased to up to 30,000 rubles (around USD $330) from the 500-3,000-ruble range ($5-32).
Back in November, the Russian Interior Ministry announced that 12 new migration control points were being opening at major airports like Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Yekaterinburg.
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The reason for the new checkpoints was supposedly to identify foreign nationals violating immigration laws, however it's seen been suggested that they points are being used as a means of handing notices to new and returning citizens.
There have been reports that Russian nationals have been intercepted at these checkpoints and handed draft notices.
Russian state-run Vesti Ural aired a report detailing one man's experience. Part of it read (per United24 Media): "The moment this man landed in the Urals, he was told he couldn’t simply fly back out.
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"He may have arrived from abroad, but on paper he’s a Russian citizen—and that means mandatory military registration, even if he has a return ticket for tomorrow."
Pro-government media outlets denied these claims though and insisted that the man in question was not met 'at the aircraft stairway' and that officers only operated at designated checkpoints.
They also rejected claims that receiving a summons automatically blocks outbound travel.
UNILAD have approached the Russian government for comment.
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The reports about more men being conscripted comes as Vladimir Putin said he's ready to fight Europe if needs be, as World War 3 fears continue to circulate.
"We're not planning to go to war with Europe, I've said that a hundred times," Putin said per Sky News. "But if Europe suddenly wants to fight us and starts, we're ready right now. There can be no doubt about that.
"If Europe suddenly wants to start a war with us and does, then a situation could very quickly arise in which we have no one to negotiate with," he added.
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Putin made the remarks after blaming Europe for getting involved with Ukraine's pending peace agreement with Russia. Supposedly, European leaders made 'demands' from Moscow that Putin felt were 'absolutely unacceptable'.