Reports of identity checks in Penza linked to military registration enforcement

On 18 June, unverified reports circulated on social media and messaging platforms such as Telegram, Max, and VKontakte about mass raids by security forces in Penza, Russia. Unnamed authors claimed that vehicles were being stopped on several major streets, including Pushkina, Lunacharskogo, and Prospekt Pobedy. However, sources close to law enforcement told the channel "Penzainform" that no large-scale checks were taking place.

Meanwhile, the publication penza.aif.ru reported that interagency patrols were indeed checking foreign nationals and individuals who had failed to register for military service. According to their sources, those who were legally required to be on military registration but had not complied were issued summons. The regional government has not yet commented on the social media posts.

Authorities have conducted similar operations in the past. In May 2025, an interagency raid involving traffic police, military investigators from the Russian Investigative Committee for the Penza Garrison, and Rosgvardia officers took place in the city. The main goal was to identify people who had obtained Russian passports but had ignored the requirement to register for military service. During that operation, officers checked documents, proof of Russian citizenship, and military IDs, stopping 70 drivers and issuing 11 summons for military registration.

The current reports suggest that if any checks occurred on 18 June, they were focused on military registration enforcement rather than a blanket crackdown.