Russian Defense Ministry proposes changing medical requirements for military service after Putin orders troop increase

The Russian Defense Ministry has proposed changing its medical fitness requirements for citizens with health issues that “do not have a significant impact” on their ability to perform military service.

Exactly what policies the ministry intends to change is unclear: information about the plan has appeared on the government’s official legal portal, though the proposal itself has not. The published document says only that the changes are aimed at “improving” the health requirments for conscripts, contract soldiers, and draftees.

The initiative comes just days after Vladimir Putin issued an order to increase the size of Russia’s military by 170,000 people. The Defense Ministry said the additional soldiers will consist of “citizens who show a willingness to serve under contract.”