Russia has passed new legislation permitting stateless individuals to join its military ranks, in a move aimed at reinforcing its armed forces amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The law, introduced earlier this year, treats stateless persons the same as foreign nationals seeking to enlist in the military.
Under the new law, those who sign military contracts and complete their service will be eligible for Russian citizenship through a streamlined process. Officials estimate that up to 5,000 stateless individuals could be recruited following the bill’s enactment.
The legislation has already cleared key parliamentary hurdles and now awaits final approval from the upper house before being signed into law. Once signed, it will take effect immediately.
In 2024 alone, nearly 90,000 stateless individuals reportedly entered Russia, and almost 6 million foreigners or stateless people registered for work. Despite these figures, less than 1% have received work permits, indicating limited legal opportunities outside military service.
This new law follows earlier attempts to attract foreign fighters by easing citizenship requirements, though those efforts have had limited impact on recruitment levels.