Russia to Force Foreigners Into Military Service via Automatic Citizenship.

Forced Military Conscription of Foreign Nationals in Russia

According to UATV: Russia has developed a mechanism to forcibly enlist foreign nationals into its military, granting automatic Russian citizenship to those who sign a contract with the Armed Forces. This initiative comes as the number of foreign offenders leaving the country surged to over 157,000 in 2024—a 45% increase from 2023—though that figure dropped to 72,000 in 2025. The policy aims to address both a growing migrant crime rate and the military's escalating personnel needs, reflecting significant manpower shortages.

Funding and Penalties

Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev highlighted funding constraints as a key challenge, stating,

“We could deport 10 times more, but we lack the funding.”

According to Ukrainian intelligence, the true purpose of this new mechanism is to pressure migrants into voluntarily signing military contracts. This represents Russia's latest effort to find alternative ways to bolster its armed forces amid growing demand for troops.

Beyond addressing the rising number of foreign offenders, this policy is designed to replenish military ranks—a sign of serious staffing crises in the army. Given the decline in offender numbers in 2025, questions arise about the approach's effectiveness and its broader social impact. Tougher penalties and new requirements for migrants may also spark backlash and protest among foreign residents in Russia.