In Russia, foreigners who have moved there to enjoy traditional values are being mobilized

Foreign men between the ages of 18 and 65 who have moved to Russia under the “traditional values” support program can no longer obtain a permanent residence permit without signing a contract for military service. Putin signed a decree establishing the procedure for issuing these documents, changing the rules after foreign citizens had already been admitted to the country.

Under the new requirements, in order to legalize their status in Russia, men of legal age must sign a contract with the armed forces for at least one year, provide documentation of prior military service, or obtain a certificate of complete unfitness from a special military medical commission. An exception has been made only for citizens of Belarus. Thus, foreigners who took advantage of simplified entry—without taking exams or obtaining quotas—have fallen into a legal trap where they are effectively being forced to participate in the war.

The family of Canadian farmer Arenda Feinstre, who moved to the Nizhny Novgorod region with his eight children due to his conservative views, has already faced these difficulties. He noted that he had not planned to sign a contract with the army, but once his temporary residence permit expires, he will have no legal grounds to remain in the country without meeting the new requirements.

Source: The Insider.

As of May 2026, at least 2,965 citizens from 36 African countries were fighting or continue to fight against Ukraine as part of the Russian occupation army.

Earlier, the Ukrainian government project “I Want to Live,” run by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, published a list of 1,059 students whom the Russian Ministry of Defense had recruited to fight in the war against Ukraine. 

In the second quarter of 2026, Russia signed approximately 93,000 new contracts for military service.