Russia proposes raising women's military service age limit to 50
In short
Russia's government submitted a bill to the State Duma proposing to raise women's military service age limit from 45 to 50. It would also increase reserve age limits to 55 for female officers and 50 for women holding other ranks.
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Russia's government submitted a bill to the State Duma on October 9 proposing to increase the maximum age for women to remain in military service from 45 to 50. The measure would also raise the reserve age limit for female officers from 50 to 55 and for women holding other military ranks from 45 to 50, according to Interfax, Meduza and RIA Novosti. Meduza said the reserve changes would allow female officers to be called up through mobilisation until age 55 and women with other ranks until age 50. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
The explanatory note presents the bill as a way to provide additional social guarantees for female service personnel. It says current age limits do not always allow women to complete the service required for pensions and other support. Interfax reported that entitlement to use accumulated funds in a participant's individual savings account requires total military service of at least 20 years, including preferential calculations where applicable. The note gives the example of a woman who starts contract service at age 25–30 in an area without preferential pension-service calculations and risks reaching the age limit without housing and pension provision. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
The government's explanation also says women make up most personnel in medical units providing support to military units involved in combat operations, including skilled specialists who have reached or are approaching the service age limit. RIA Novosti reported that the law would take effect on January 1 if adopted, allowing time to amend regulations governing military service. It said women who signed contracts before that date would retain the right to leave at the age limit specified in the previous version of the law. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The bill's explanatory note says existing limits can prevent women from completing the service needed for pensions and housing support. It also points to women in military medical units who remain skilled specialists despite reaching the current age limit.
Key facts
- The government submitted a bill raising women's military service age limit from 45 to 50. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The proposed reserve age limit would rise from 50 to 55 for female officers and from 45 to 50 for women with other ranks. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The explanatory note says women starting contract service at ages 25–30 may not complete the service needed for housing and pension benefits under the existing limit. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- RIA Novosti reported that the bill would take effect on January 1 if adopted. [ 4 ]
- RIA Novosti said women who signed contracts before that date would retain the right to leave at the previous statutory age limit. [ 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- The documents do not report passage of the bill. The reports describe its submission and proposed provisions, with implementation conditional on adoption.