Mass roundups of men in Russia's Penza region to force them into war in Ukraine

In Penza and the Penza region of Russia, police together with military commissariat staff have organized roundups of men. According to an analysis by Radio Liberty, which examined reports from Russian media, human rights projects, and social networks, the raids are taking place in Penza, Kamenka, and Kuznetsk.

A resident of the city told the human rights group "Идите лесом" that in Penza, all men are being taken, cars and public transport are stopped, and men are packed off to sign contracts. The movement "Conscientious Objectors' Movement" also received several reports that in Penza and the region, "young people are being rounded up and forced to sign a contract" with the Russian armed forces.

Another resident of Penza told the channel "Mobilization" that the catching of men began back in January, but lately the raids have intensified. Comments from local residents under posts by "Новая альтернива" indicate that people in the region are being forcibly taken to war.

The publication itself reported that in November 2025, security forces took from his home a resident of Sursk, Vladimir Podkovyrkin, to sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense. In May 2026, Stanislav Vyaltzyn was tortured in the building of the military commissariat on Skladskaya Street.

The publication Astra writes that earlier a local resident, Anastasia Fomina, published an appeal to the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia about the kidnapping and sending to the front of her 58-year-old father. According to Fomina, her father and other men who were at the military commissariat that day were forced to sign a contract under pressure. The next day they were sent to the Rostov region of Russia.