Raids on Russians of draft age continue in the Penza region
For several days now, reports have been coming in from the Penza region in Russia about roundups of men of draft age. On June 20, local Telegram channels again reported such incidents.
Russians claim that military registration and enlistment office staff drive around at night in black minivans and lie in wait for people near liquor stores to “pick up drunk people who can easily be forced to sign something.”
In comments on a VKontakte video, eyewitnesses confirm cases of forced mobilization—people were taken off the street by individuals posing as bailiffs or police, had their documents checked, and were pressured into signing contracts.
On June 19, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Penza Regional Directorate commented on the raids in the region, calling them “routine operations.” During one such operation in Kuznetsk, Penza Region, a man in a wheelchair tried, in a harsh manner and using profanity, to drive away military police officers who were conducting raids on men near the “Equator” shopping center. He pulled out a knife and tried to approach the law enforcement officers who were filming him. The video was posted by local social media pages.
It is worth noting that a potential new wave of mobilization in Russia could deal a serious blow to the aggressor country’s economy. Intelligence analysts believe that the additional draft of the working-age population could exacerbate labor shortages, put pressure on the budget, and worsen the economic situation for years to come.
On June 19, Ukrainian defenders eliminated 1,370 Russian soldiers. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also updated data on enemy equipment and weapon losses on the front lines as of June 19, 2026.
