A new mobilization system is being formed in Russian regions, directly affecting private businesses and budgetary institutions. Authorities are demanding that enterprises supply personnel for combat operations against Ukraine. If employers are unwilling to send their employees to the front, they are offered an alternative — a monetary payment.
According to data from the Dozhd TV channel, reported by RBC-Ukraine, such a scheme has already been implemented in the Muysky district of Buryatia. Journalists gained access to a document titled "Plan for Selecting Candidates for Contract Service in 2026." A source close to the republic's administration confirmed that similar mechanisms are operating across the country.
The Mathematics of Mobilization
The documents contain a detailed breakdown: the number of employees in each company, the number of men aged 20 to 60, and a specific quota of how many people the enterprise must send to war. The mechanism is simple: the republican headquarters sets the total figure, and local administrations distribute the burden among enterprises.
For businesses that refuse to give up employees, there is an option to "buy out" the obligation. Companies can sign contracts with specialized firms for "candidate selection." The cost of such a service in Buryatia is 100,000 rubles per person — a sum considered colossal for local business.
Hospitals Under Attack
Requirements extend not only to the commercial sector but also to budgetary organizations. In particular, medical institutions have come under fire. A district hospital in Buryatia received an order to provide two employees for the war. This requirement sounds particularly acute against the backdrop of a critical shortage of medical personnel in the region.
The Evolution of Pressure on Business
Entrepreneurs from Siberia confirm that the practice of coercing employers has a steady trend. According to one of the interlocutors, demands to provide people first appeared back in 2024. In case of refusal, businesses were threatened with inspections.
In 2025, the scheme transformed into a stricter form of "buyout." Employers were forced to sign contracts for candidate search, the cost of which rose to 450,000 rubles per person.
Expectations of a New Wave of Mobilization
Facts of forced recruitment at the local level are overlaid on statements by officials about a possible large-scale mobilization. Recently, the head of the OP Kirill Budanov stated that Russia has no technical obstacles to conducting a mobilization this year, similar to the one in 2022.
At the same time, according to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, the Kremlin is unlikely to take such a step at the moment. However, experts suggest that the situation may change after September 20, when the State Duma elections will be held in Russia.