4.2.7. Draft evasion

4.2.7. Draft evasion

According to the Code of Administrative Offences (Article 21.5), young men of conscript age face liability for failing to appear at a military enlistment office upon receiving a summons828 – such as for a medical examination or additional medical examination829 – which is punishable with a fine of 10 000 [102 euros] to 30 000 roubles [307 euros].830 Smaller fines from 1 000 to 20 000 [10 – 205 euros] are imposed for failing to notify a military enlistment office about changes related to personal information, such as marital status, education, place of studies or employment, and residential address, as well as for not notifying a military enlistment office about leaving Russia for a period of more than six months.831 The law requires to notify a military enlistment office about of a change of one’s address within 14 days, including by sending a notification via the Gosuslugi portal.832

In June 2025, the State Duma approved an amendment, increasing fines for failing to notify a military enlistment office of a change of address from the previous 1 000 – 5 000 rubles [10 – 51 euros] to 10 000 – 20 000 rubles [102 – 205 euros], noting than more than 47 000 individuals were held responsible under this legal provision, with 28 700 being fined and 18 300 receiving warnings.833 As noted by Artem Klyga, these fines ‘are intended to scare young people and force them to send more supporting documents to military enlistment offices.’ However, as of 31 October 2025, a widespread enforcement of these fines has not been observed.834

Draft evasion from obligatory military service is a criminal offence, punished under Article 328 of the Criminal Code by a fine up to 200 000 rubles [2 050 euros] or imprisonment for up to two years. Draft evasion from the alternative civilian service is punishable by penalties ranging from a fine of 80 000 rubles [820 euros] to arrest of up to six months.835 As noted by Sergey Krivenko, the court must establish that there was a deliberate intent to evade military service, which can be demonstrated, for instance, through proving ‘repeated failures’ to appear at the military enlistment office without a valid reason.836