Russians Are Shocked By The "monstrous Experiment"
- 26.06.2026, 12:30
What is the Kremlin hoping for?
Within the aggressor country, mobilization into the ranks of the Russian occupation forces has continued, though it has been largely “quiet.” Now, however, a new phase has begun. It’s the kind of development that has sparked genuine panic and a mass exodus of residents from the Penza region. However, it would be a mistake to think that what’s happening there is merely some kind of “local” initiative. And it seems that the Russians have begun to suspect something.
For more details on the situation, see the article OBOZ.UA.
“They’re rounding up everyone”
On June 18, in the cities of Penza, Kamennaya, and Serdobsk (all in the Penza Region), roundups began, sparking a wave of hysterical posts on the Russian segments of Telegram and Threads.
Local residents reported that during the raids, men were taken to military registration and enlistment offices and forced to sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense.
For example, in the regional capital, raids began simultaneously throughout the city: “candidates” were rounded up on the streets, and cars and even public transportation were stopped. Panic broke out immediately: men practically stopped going out onto the streets, and in chat rooms and Telegram channels, people began warning each other of the danger.
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Moreover, according to the Russian project “Idi Lesom” (Go Into the Woods), which helps people avoid mobilization into the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces, the security forces’ tactics have now changed: whereas previously people were indiscriminately taken directly to military registration and enlistment offices, where they were pressured and threatened into signing a contract, the police have now been brought into the “process” as well.
“Security forces and military registration offices are paying particular attention to ‘socially vulnerable’ individuals—migrants, people with child support debts, and people with alcohol addiction,” the project states.
A comment from a Penza resident on the situation
However, there are many reports from residents of the region who do not fall into any of these categories. In other words, they’re really rounding up everyone indiscriminately: including students who are not subject to either conscription for active duty or mobilization. And under pressure (including physical pressure), they sign a contract in no time at all—one that’s virtually impossible to “cancel.” Because “they wanted to do it themselves.”
The Russian authorities’ reaction to these events turned out to be both entirely expected and revealing. While they remained silent for a day at first, then categorically denied the roundups of residents in the Penza Region, they eventually admitted to them. True, there’s a catch.
A press release from the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the 58th region of the Russian Federation (Penza Oblast) states that “the information is not true.” And immediately added that the raids… yes, are being conducted, but as assistance to the military division of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation for the Penza Garrison “to identify individuals who have obtained Russian citizenship but have not registered for military service in a timely manner.”
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Incidentally, there is some truth to this (but only a small part). Earlier, OBOZ.UA published exclusive information stating that Russia had begun detaining residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and checking their military registration stamps. This was allegedly taking place as part of the “Migrant” special operation, and we had reports of such cases in the Moscow and Rostov regions of the Russian Federation. However, this in no way negates the fact that Russia has now begun to target residents of the Penza region as well. Everyone, without exception.
As of today, it is reported that “Penza has practically died out.” Men are trying to stay home (they’ve switched to remote work), while the “bounty hunters” have once again changed their tactics—now they’re scouring courtyards and apartments.
And Russian security forces are threatening to “hold accountable” anyone who publishes information about these raids and the conscription into the “special military operation.”
In addition, a scandal has erupted over “silver coins”—payments for “facilitating the signing of military service contracts.” Journalists in Penza discovered that the authorities have classified data on the recipients of these payments, even though budget execution reports are publicly available.
Over the course of a year, spending on this in this region alone rose from 3 to 31 (!) million rubles (at the NBU exchange rate, that’s between 1.5 and 15 million hryvnias). At the same time, officials cannot clearly explain exactly what actions the compensation is intended for or how it is monitored. In essence, a new local gravy train has been created without any accountability.
Why now, and what are the consequences
Covert (or hybrid) mobilization in Russia has continued unabated since it was first announced. But now, as we can see, it has reached a new level.
Residents of the Penza Region of the Russian Federation are heatedly discussing this “monstrous experiment” on social media and trying to figure out how to escape it. There are also rumors that as early as July 1, it may be expanded to several more regions of the aggressor country.
“The regime has decided to test people’s reaction. If they don’t take to the streets (let’s be realistic—that’s unlikely to happen there), then tomorrow the raids will start ‘spreading’ to other regions of the Russian Federation,” a Ukrainian intelligence officer told OBOZ.UA.
Nevertheless, in Serdobsk itself, “incidents” have already been reported since the first day of the roundups, in which city residents fought to protect their loved ones and prevented them from being taken away. It has also come to light that military registration and enlistment office staff “working” in the roundup brigade were “beaten up” there. But these are still isolated incidents.
On June 18, military registration and enlistment office staff were beaten in Serdobsk
Meanwhile, a huge number of anti-war comments appeared under posts about the roundups in Penza social media groups.
Many are asking: why did the roundups start right now? The answer is quite simple. Although the Russian Federation’s losses in the war in Ukraine are enormous and cannot be replenished, the Putin regime will not risk declaring a general mobilization on the eve of the Russian State Duma elections (which will take place in September). And for the Russian army’s summer offensive, they need cannon fodder. A lot of cannon fodder.
And so, they decided to follow a familiar path. For example, the same thing had already happened in the occupied part of Ukraine. Specifically, in February 2022 in the Donetsk region. Since the beginning of the month, even before the full-scale invasion, occupied Donetsk had turned into a place where men were “hunted down.” They were taken to military registration and enlistment offices ostensibly for “two weeks of training,” but it turned out they were being sent to war. And for many, this became a one-way ticket.
As for a large-scale mobilization in Russia, many experts agree that it is unlikely to be avoided.
In particular, Alexander Kovalenko, a military-political analyst with the “Information Resistance” group Alexander Kovalenko believes that a general mobilization will most likely begin after the elections in Russia—with a relatively short time lag of a couple of weeks to a month after the official results are announced.