Aug. 20, 2026
A contract service recruitment office in Moscow.
Arthur Novosiltsev / Moskva News Agency
Idite Lesom (“Get Lost”), a group that helps Russian men avoid military service, has reported receiving a growing number of complaints from individuals who were forcibly detained and coerced into signing contracts with Russia’s Defense Ministry.
Between Aug. 10 and 18, Idite Lesom recorded 14 separate cases from regions across Russia, including Krasnodar, Omsk, Arkhangelsk and the Jewish autonomous district, as well as the republics of Udmurtia and Buryatia.
