Stateless Individuals Granted Opportunity to Enlist in Russian Military Amid Recruitment Drive

On Tuesday, Russian legislators passed a new bill that permits stateless individuals to enter into military contracts, a move aimed at increasing troop numbers for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Members of the State Duma, the lower house of Parliament, approved the legislation, which was proposed by the Justice Ministry in April, during its second and third readings. This law modifies current regulations regarding military service and defense-related matters.

Under this new legislation, military recruiters are allowed to treat stateless individuals similarly to foreign nationals seeking to enlist. Those who complete their military service will have the opportunity to apply for Russian citizenship through an expedited process.

The bill will now proceed to the Federation Council, the upper house of Parliament, for a final vote before it is anticipated to receive President Vladimir Putin’s signature. It will come into effect immediately upon being signed.

Lawmakers expressed their hope to recruit as many as 5,000 stateless individuals for military service once the legislation is enacted.

Data from the Federal Security Service (FSB) indicates that nearly 90,000 stateless people entered Russia in 2024 alone, although this number may include repeat entries by the same individuals.

According to the Interior Ministry, which does not differentiate between foreigners and stateless individuals in its statistics, approximately 5.93 million such persons registered for work in 2024, but fewer than 1% have successfully obtained work permits.

Last year, President Putin relaxed citizenship requirements for foreigners serving in the Russian military, but migration expert Vadim Kozhenkov noted in an April interview with the business newspaper Vedomosti that this policy has not resulted in a significant increase in enlistment figures.