Russian security personnel detained a 31-year-old man on a street in the Siberian city of Omsk and took him to a military recruitment center, where his relatives say he was pressured into signing a contract with Russia’s defense ministry.
The incident occurred Aug. 8 after the man, identified only as Dmitry S., was seen drinking beer on a public bench, according to the independent Omsk Civil Association, which cited his relatives.
Several men in civilian clothing allegedly restrained Dmitry and drove him away. His passport and military identification documents were at home, according to accounts provided by his family.
He was taken to the Sirius 55 military selection center and subjected to psychological pressure before signing a contract, the relatives said. The man’s relatives appealed to prosecutors, but were asked to provide additional documents and submit another complaint.
The reported incident comes amid mounting evidence that Russian military recruiters are using increasingly coercive methods as Moscow struggles to attract enough volunteers for its war against Ukraine.
Russian police and military officials can formally conduct raids to identify people accused of violating military registration requirements. However, rights advocates say detainees are also being encouraged or pressured to sign military contracts.
The Russian anti-war organization Get Lost, which assists soldiers and deserters, says authorities are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit volunteers despite offering large signing bonuses.
Recruitment methods have included street detentions, visits to homes and workplaces and pressure on debtors, people serving suspended sentences and recently discharged conscripts.
Similar allegations have emerged in other Russian regions, including Penza and Ulyanovsk. Russian authorities have denied some previous reports that men were forced to sign contracts.
Russia’s contract recruitment has slowed, according to Ukrainian intelligence and researchers tracking regional spending. Economist Janis Kluge estimated that Russia signed about 93,000 new military contracts in the second quarter of 2026.
Although overall recruitment this year remains only slightly below last year’s level, average regional spending on enlistment bonuses has risen by about 30%, according to Kluge’s calculations.
The combination of higher payments and reports of coercion suggests that finding volunteers is becoming increasingly difficult as Russia attempts to replace continued battlefield losses without announcing another nationwide mobilization.
After four years of full-scale war with Russia, Ukraine’s armed forces are also facing persistent manpower shortages and growing reliance on newly mobilized conscripts. While volunteer enlistment surged after Russia’s 2022 invasion, recruitment has since shifted overwhelmingly to compulsory mobilization.