Russia to ease military service criteria amid troop losses
The Russian authorities are preparing to relax the criteria for determining citizens' eligibility for military service in order to replenish the army, which—according to Western data—has lost half a million soldiers killed and wounded in the war in Ukraine.
According to a draft decree on military-medical expertise prepared by the Ministry of Defence, contracts with the armed forces will also be available to Russians suffering from schizophrenia and delusions.
Changes in the army. Project leaked
Currently, individuals with "endogenous psychoses", including "schizophrenia, schizotypal, schizoaffective, delusional disorders, acute and transient psychotic disorders, as well as affective disorders", receive a fitness category "D" — indicating they are deemed unfit for military service.
In the new version of the document, they may receive a category "B" (limited fitness for service [section 3]) — meaning they can serve under contract. The condition is that "the symptoms are moderate and short-term", described in the document as "no more than one episode lasting up to 4 months, stable remission <…> with no significant adaptation disorders in basic areas of life".
At the same time, individuals suffering from schizophrenia and delusional disorders will still be considered "unfit" for conscription (section II) and initial military registration (section I).
The changes were proposed in consideration of the experiences from conducting the "special military operation" — aiming to expand admission to the army for individuals who were previously unable to join for medical reasons, a source at the Russian Ministry of Defence explained to "Kommersant".
The document also indicates that besides mental disorders, the ministry plans to ease restrictions regarding military service for other health issues. For example, the "B" category (limited fitness for service) for conscripts with primary, secondary, and latent syphilis will be changed to "B-4", allowing service as combat missile system protection specialists.
Changes also for those addicted to drugs
Additionally, conscripts with first-degree hypertension will be classified in the "B-3" category, enabling them to be assigned, for example, as drivers of armoured vehicles and missile launchers. Currently, young people with such a diagnosis are exempt from military service with a "B" category.
The easing of criteria for contract admission will also include individuals addicted to drugs — military doctors will assign them a "B" category if "behavioural disorders induced by psychoactive substance use" are moderate or minor.
"Experiences from medical examinations of soldiers during a special military operation revealed many inaccuracies and diagnostic criteria in the list of diseases <…> requiring adjustment to modern standards" — it was stated in the justification of the project.
