Russia’s partial mobilization of military reservists, announced by President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, will not apply to some skilled workers. Waivers will be granted to people with a post-secondary degree, and those who work in information technology, telecommunications, mass media, and finance, the Defense Ministry announced on Friday.
Organizations whose workers qualify will need to send lists of their employees to the Russian General Staff to ensure that they are not called up for service.
Russian draft rules provide for exemptions from service for some able-bodied people, including those whose presence at home is necessary to help dependent family members and workers in strategically important organizations, like defense manufacturers.
The Defense Ministry said it intends to enlist 300,000 people into active service, prioritizing those with combat experience and professions required for the military operation Ukraine.
On Thursday, it reported that around 10,000 volunteers went to recruitment centers on the first day of the mobilization, even before the ministry fully launched the draft.