Russia is moving to expand government access to citizens’ financial data, with the Defense Ministry seeking authority to obtain banking information - a step critics say undermines banking secrecy and could be used to pressure indebted Russians into military service.
On January 26, it emerged that the ministry plans to grant the deputy defense minister — who heads the Main Military-Political Directorate - the power to request information from the Central Bank, commercial lenders, tax authorities, credit history bureaus and other financial institutions. A draft law was published on the Federal Portal of Legal Acts.
The move follows action by the Federal Security Service, which in October 2025 published an order, issued on behalf of Alexander Bortnikov, aimed at gaining access to Russians’ credit histories.
In Russia, the Defense Ministry and security services appear to be seeking direct access to information on citizens’ credit arrears to pressure them into signing military contracts, according to local reports. Authorities have struggled to meet recruitment targets, including in Moscow, where the December 2025 goal was reportedly underfilled by 56%.
