Russian Defense Ministry Proposes Revising Fitness Categories for Certain Medical Conditions in Military Registration and Contract Service
Russia Eases Military Fitness Rules for Syphilis and Mental Health Diagnoses
A draft government decree outlining the changes has been published on the portal for regulatory legal acts.
Under the proposal, conscripts and draftees diagnosed with primary, secondary, or latent syphilis—where the microprecipitation reaction shows delayed seronegative conversion—would have their fitness category changed from "limited fitness" to "fit with minor restrictions." Contract servicemembers with syphilis would be classified as "fit without restrictions."
The draft also removes a provision that previously deemed individuals with late or congenital syphilis "unfit for service."
The Defense Ministry further proposes distinguishing between "severely pronounced" and "moderately pronounced" endogenous psychoses, including schizophrenia, schizotypal disorders, and delusional disorders. In cases of severe symptoms, both conscripts and contract servicemembers would be considered "unfit for service." For moderate symptoms, contract personnel would be classified as "limited fitness." The same category would also allow contracts to be signed with individuals diagnosed with severe personality disorders.
Additionally, the ministry suggests classifying conscripts missing an ear auricle as "limited fitness," while contract servicemembers in the same condition would be deemed "fit with minor restrictions."
Meanwhile, the State Duma has drafted a bill to extend the validity of military enlistment office decisions and expand conscription boards. According to the document, if a conscription order is not executed during the same draft cycle in which it was issued, it would remain valid for an additional year. This means a citizen could be sent for mandatory service at any point within 12 months across subsequent draft periods. The same bill introduces amendments allowing conscription boards to revisit decisions on draftees, including those granted deferments.
The government has supported the initiative, with reservations. Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, stated that the lower house could consider the bill before the spring conscription cycle, which begins on April 1.
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