Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed legislation permitting foreigners and stateless individuals to enlist under contract in the country’s armed forces, according to the text published on the official portal of legal acts and reported by state news agencies Tass and RT. The measure amends the laws “On Military Duty and Military Service,” “On Defense,” and “On the Status of Servicemen,” extending the right to sign service contracts to people who do not hold Russian citizenship. Moscow’s Justice Ministry first floated the proposal in April. The move opens an additional recruitment channel for the Russian military, which has expanded its personnel needs since the launch of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The Kremlin did not immediately detail eligibility criteria or the number of positions that may become available to non-citizens.