The Ministry of Digital Development has named specialties that can provide employees in the IT, communications and media sectors with a deferment from mobilization

The Ministry of Communications and Digital Development has published a list ( .pdf ) of specialties that “meet the criteria for exemption from mobilization for IT and communications specialists.” The document was published in the official telegram channel of the department.

The list includes 195 specialties. Among them are mathematics, physics, nuclear energy and thermal physics, astronomy, chemistry, mechanical engineering, linguistics, journalism, architecture, design and others.

The Ministry of Digital Development noted that “IT and communications are developing at a rapid pace, so many people come to the industry from related specialties.”

The ministry also emphasized: “We do not forget that having a relevant specialty and employment in an accredited IT organization or telecom operator does not in itself give the right to exemption from conscription. Critical functions also need to be performed.”

• On September 23, the Ministry of Defense announced that employees of the IT sector, telecom operators, media and banks will not be called up as part of the mobilization (if their company meets certain requirements). The Ministry of Digital Development, in turn, stated that we are only talking about a deferment from conscription.
• Despite the explanations from the ministries, there were still attempts at military registration and enlistment offices to recruit IT specialists to the front.
• The head of the Human Rights Council (HRC) under the President, Valery Fadeev, called for tightening the conditions for recruiting IT specialists. In his opinion, the “reservation” should apply only to those of them who “work with military and dual-use technologies, ensure the operation of critical information infrastructure and backbone companies.”