Yevgeny Poddubny, a “war correspondent” for Russian state broadcaster VGTRK who heads United Russia’s electoral list, asked Vladimir Putin to allow volunteers with a Category D fitness classification to serve in regional units defending against Ukrainian drone attacks.

Poddubny claimed that wounded soldiers themselves were asking for the change.

“Of course, people in this category have severe medical conditions, but there are cases where […] people are capable of carrying out certain tasks — for example, serving in regional BARS units for air defense and destroying drones. Obviously, not everyone can. But there is a core group of volunteers who have assessed their own abilities and are pleading for an exception that would allow them to serve in regional units that protect facilities from drones. Obviously, this is not about the front line. Their own city, their own village, their own workplace,” Poddubny said.

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Putin replied, “Zhenya, I support it.”

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Category D is assigned to people with severe, irreversible medical conditions, including blindness, deafness in both ears, and schizophrenia.

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Meanwhile, Kremlin officials deny having mobilization plans.

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