Amid a significant shortage of volunteers, Russia is contemplating the recruitment of individuals classified as unfit for military service.
This surprising proposal was reportedly suggested to President Vladimir Putin during a meeting with party leaders and “war heroes,” as reported by La Libre Belgique and picked up by Rador Radio România.
The idea of allowing access to individuals designated as “Category D,” meaning “permanently unfit” for military duty, has indeed been proposed, according to the Russian opposition newspaper Novaya Gazeta.
Understanding Category D
Potential military recruits are categorized based on their fitness for service.
Category A indicates “fully fit,” B means “partially fit,” V denotes “reserve,” G stands for “temporarily unfit,” and D signifies “permanently unfit.” This last category encompasses individuals suffering from severe and incurable physical or mental illnesses, disabilities, as well as the blind and deaf.
Consequently, those in this category are exempt from military service and cannot be enlisted even as volunteers.
According to opposition media, the Russian president appears receptive to this suggestion. To partially circumvent existing regulations, Putin would reportedly not deploy these individuals directly to the Ukrainian front but would instead utilize them within Russia’s own territory.
Proposed Roles
The proposed roles for personnel classified as Category D would relate to “regional air defense” within Russia. The country is frequently targeted by long-range Ukrainian drones that strike military installations and other critical infrastructure.
The specific tasks assigned to these individuals remain unclear.
This decision is unlikely to be welcomed by all segments of Russian society, especially as fears of a new wave of mobilization loom large.
