Four years after Putin announced a ‘partial mobilization,’ rumors of another wave are spreading. Meduza asked lawyers how Russians can protect themselves.

Four years after Russia announced a mobilization, rumors of another are circulating. We still don’t know how likely another mobilization is, but everyone should know how to protect themselves whether or not it happens. Even without another mobilization, there are plenty of risks. You could, for example, be caught in a draft roundup. We worked with Artyom Klyga, head of the legal department at the Conscientious Objectors Movement, and Timofey Vaskin, head of the legal department at the Conscript School, to prepare a guide explaining what to do. We condensed the key recommendations into a single image. You can save it and forward it to anyone who has trouble getting online because of access restrictions or shutdowns.We explain some of the guide’s recommendations in greater detail below the image. For a full explanation of the legal details, follow the link to the Conscientious Objectors Movement’s comprehensive guide.Pay particular attention to your documents, essential contacts, and the items you should carry with you.Russians’ “safety folder” should contain:A copy of a power of attorney — leave the original and other copies with loved ones who can represent you if necessaryA copy of any agreement you make in advance with an attorney or legal adviserA notarized copy of your passportA notarized copy of your military registration documentCopies of current medical records, especially records documenting conditions on the Defense Ministry’s list that make you ineligible to sign a military service contractCopies of documents confirming any mobilization deferment you secured yourself or through your employer — such as an extract from an order granting you an employment-based exemption, proof that you are enrolled as a student or work for a defense industry company, or documents showing who is in your household, documenting relatives’ disabilities, or confirming guardianshipOptional printed copies of brief instructions explaining what to do if you are stopped or taken to a police station, military recruitment office, or assembly point — these can help you get your bearings under stress and avoid panickingHi, I’m Vladislav Gorin.I’m the host of Meduza’s daily Russian-language daily news podcast. This summer, the Russian authorities opened a criminal case against me — not for committing a crime, but for telling the truth about Russia and its war against Ukraine.Because the Kremlin has branded me a criminal, I can’t go home. I also can’t safely travel to countries like Turkey — even though it’s a NATO member — because I could be arrested and extradited to Russia. I can’t even renew my passport at the consulate anymore. None of this is going to stop me. I know there are hundreds of thousands of people in Russia who don’t want this war and who still believe in freedom and democracy, and they deserve access to independent journalism. Please support Meduza so I can keep reaching them. Lawyers also recommend carrying:About 20 blank sheets of paper and a pen for writing complaints and formal requestsTemplates for complaints and formal requestsA template for a written statement refusing to sign a military service contract, for use before you are sent to a military unitA template for a formal military report refusing to sign a military service contract, for use after you are sent to a military unitA template for a statement declining a medical examination or review by a draft boardA template for filing a report of abuse of official authority with a police station’s duty deskA template for a complaint about pressure to sign a contractYour fully charged primary smartphone with emergency contacts saved on it — more on this below. If your device allows it, you can share your location with loved ones so they can find you quickly if you are detained.A spare basic phone without a camera or internet access — phones like these are legally permitted on military unit premises, and you should save your essential contacts on it as wellA power bank and charging cableRussians should save the following contacts on both phones:First and foremost, save the contact details of loved ones, an attorney or legal adviser who can quickly step in and represent you, and human rights advocates:Russians should also save the contact details of relevant government agencies and hotlines:All official conscription hotlinesThe duty officer at your district or city police station: 102 or 112The Russian Interior Ministry’s hotline: 8 (800) 222-74-47 or 8 (495) 031-74-47The hotline for the Interior Ministry branch in your region, which you can find on this websiteYour military recruitment office’s phone number, which you can find onlineThe phone numbers for your district or city prosecutor’s office and prosecutors on dutyThe phone number for the military prosecutor’s office for your garrison, which you can find on this websiteThe phone number for your regional human rights commissioner, which you can find on this websiteIf you are detained or held against your will at a military recruitment office or assembly point, call the appropriate numbers immediately to document the violations. Calls to government hotlines are automatically recorded, and reports are logged, creating an official record. Your contact with the authorities can later serve as evidence that your rights were violated at a specific time. Your call could also trigger an internal review.Russian police are raiding gyms, sweeping up men for conscription and deportationAt Meduza, we are committed to transparency about our use of artificial intelligence in the newsroom. The story you’re reading was written by one of our living, breathing journalists and translated from Russian using an AI model configured to follow our strict editorial standards. This translation process is the result of extensive testing and refinements to ensure our English-language coverage is timely and accurate. A Meduza editor reviews every draft before publication.If you find any errors in this translation, please contact us at [email protected].To read Meduza’s exclusive content in English, please subscribe to our newsletter.Ekaterina Mezentseva