Russia is using tightened syphilis screening of migrants as an instrument of pressure to push them towards contracts with its armed forces, Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service said on September 9.

The mechanism the service describes is an administrative ruse to pressgang more recruits into Russian military service. Stricter medical control means more certificates, more inspections and more grounds to refuse a migrant residency and work documents, unless they sign up for service in the armed forces.

Those who refuse can face prosecution under Article 121 of Russia's criminal code, which covers infecting another person with a venereal disease, the service said, UNITED24 Media reports.

The stated pretext is a documented rise in infections, according to figures from the consumer safety agency Rospotrebnadzor:

Syphilis cases in Moscow rose 33.9% last year

The capital's rate now runs 3.8 times higher than in other Russian regions

Nationwide incidence has climbed 63%

Migrants account for roughly 80% of Moscow's detected cases, though infections among local residents also rose 30%

In the first half of this year detected cases rose 20% in Novosibirsk region and 28.9% in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug

Ukraine's intelligence service argues the campaign will not improve Russia's own numbers either, because formal controls, poor diagnostics and a market in paid medical certificates mean official statistics stay well ahead of reality. Regional figures may be understated for the same reason.

Currently the defence ministry is struggling to replace killed and wounded in service with enough fresh recruits to keep manpower levels stable. NGOs report:

At least 857 Moldovan citizens have been drawn into the war this way, 81 of them confirmed killed

More than 28,000 foreigners have signed contracts to serve in the Russian military

Russia recruited nearly 3,000 Africans from 37 countries, per earlier UNITED24 reporting