Russian servicemen who desert their units without authorization could soon see their service time cease to accrue after just two days, according to a draft law submitted to the State Duma by the Russian Federation government. The proposed changes aim to align military service regulations with existing criminal code provisions.

The bill, if passed, will amend the law “On Military Duty and Military Service” to reflect the fact that criminal liability for unauthorized abandonment of a unit already exists after a two-day period.

The government, as the bill’s author, explained that the need for the change stems from the current discrepancy between military service regulations and the criminal code.

This legislative effort follows a previous bill submitted to the State Duma, which seeks to increase the penalties for desertion among former prisoners.