Penza Authorities Forcibly Mobilizing Men Into Military – Reports

June 19, 2026 @iditelesom_help / Telegram Russian security forces and military enlistment officers are carrying out coordinated street raids across the Penza region to force local men into signing military contracts to fight in the war against Ukraine, according to exiled Russian media and anti-war groups. Idite Lesom, a non-profit organization that helps Russian men avoid military service, said it was contacted by several people in the city of Penza and nearby towns who described men being “rounded up indiscriminately.” Witnesses reported that law enforcement authorities were stopping cars and public transportation, detaining men and taking them away. The exiled news outlet Mediazona said it verified the location of a Penza enlistment office in a widely circulated video on social media, which showed women crying and accusing men in uniform of physically assaulting their relatives who were placed in a minibus. At least 20 people have reportedly been detained across Penza and the nearby towns of Kamenka and Kuznetsk. Some residents told exiled Russian media that the raids appeared to target “draft dodgers” who had previously ignored military summonses. The Moscow Times could not independently verify those reports. Idite Lesom said pro-government media outlets in Penza dismissed the reports of forced military mobilization as “fake,” characterizing the heavy security presence in the region as routine law enforcement sweeps targeting undocumented migrants and standard draft evaders. However, Idite Lesom said it has continued to receive messages from families whose male relatives were said to have been forcibly taken off the streets by security forces. One family has already filed a formal complaint alleging that a relative was tricked into signing a Defense Ministry contract under the guise of standard paperwork documenting his arrest. President Vladimir Putin announced a “partial” mobilization of 300,000 reservists in September 2022, several months into the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, Russian media have regularly reported instances of men being forced to join the army. Putin ordered the Russian military to boost active personnel to 1.5 million by 2026. Read more about: Penza , Regions , Defense Ministry Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Defense Ministry Publishes Rare Footage of Tatarstan Drone Factory Employing Teens A factory banner reads: “Kurchatov, Korolyov and Stalin live in your DNA.” 2 Min read Russia Border Regions Report Power Cuts After Ukraine Attacks Both sides have used drones, including larger self-detonating craft with ranges stretching hundreds of kilometers, extensively throughout the war. 2 Min read Russian Military Boosts Call-Ups for Annual Reservist Training Exercises Military commissariats in the Moscow region have sent a flurry of demands to companies to provide lists of employees eligible for reserve duty. 4 Min read Can Urban Renewal Plug Russia’s Brain Drain? Regional officials hope that beautifying towns can stop people from leaving.