Putin Backed A United Russia Member's Proposal To Enlist People With Schizophrenia Into Military Service

• 6.09.2026, 13:59

As well as people with one kidney and those living with HIV.

Vladimir Putin at a meeting with the top five candidates on the “United Russia” party’s electoral list On September 5, he supported an initiative to allow volunteers with a “D” military service classification to serve in regional units tasked with countering drones. This proposal was put forward by Evgeny Poddubny, a military correspondent, as reported by "Rosbalt".

According to Poddubny, veterans of the “special military operation” who sustained severe injuries and were subsequently deemed unfit for military service approached him with this request. Putin supported the initiative and stated that he would issue instructions to the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff.

As noted by “Kommersant” noted, currently a citizen with a “D” classification is unfit for military service and cannot join the army even as a volunteer.

This category may be assigned to a person with a single kidney, epileptic seizures occurring at least five times a year, active tuberculosis, mental retardation, HIV, cancer with metastases, schizophrenia, and other conditions.