A new Russian law has removed an obstacle that had until now allowed some men to avoid registration and shows that Moscow expects a protracted conflict in Ukraine, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said in an assessment on Saturday morning.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a law simplifying the mobilization of Russians into the army, the text of which was adopted by the parliament in two days, Russian agencies report.

Putin made the new law a digital recruitment system, which greatly facilitated the mobilization of Russians into the army and created new fears in the country against the background of the war with Ukraine.

The system can bar men from leaving the country and make it nearly impossible to evade registration.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense said in an assessment on Saturday morning that the law would allow authorities to send draft documents electronically rather than by letter, eliminating a way to avoid conscription.

With conscription details now digitally linked to other state-run online services, authorities are likely to punish those who evade registration by automatically restricting employment rights and restricting overseas travel, Britain’s military secret service says .

The measures, which were reported to come into effect later this year, do not specifically point to a major new wave of forced mobilization, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said.

Currently, Russia’s priority is the campaign to attract additional volunteers. However, the move is likely to be part of a long-term approach to providing personnel as Russia anticipates a protracted conflict in Ukraine.

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