Russian security forces carried out a large-scale immigration raid near the Sennoy Market in central St. Petersburg on October 16. Several dozen people were detained during the operation, and some men who had recently acquired Russian citizenship were issued summonses to report to military enlistment offices.
The state news agency TASS reported the operation, citing a law enforcement source.
Riot police surrounded a block on Moskovsky Prospekt containing a prayer facility attended by large numbers of worshippers.
Officers also conducted checks at nearby hostels and cafés.
Security personnel examined people's documents, including migration cards, registration papers and work permits.
Military enlistment office representatives participated in the operation, checking whether men who had obtained Russian citizenship were registered for military service.
According to the TASS source, several dozen people were identified during the raid and issued summonses to appear at military enlistment offices and register.
Russian law requires citizens who meet the relevant criteria to be registered for military service. This also applies to men who acquired Russian citizenship rather than receiving it at birth.
Russian authorities have tightened enforcement of these requirements in recent years amid the continuing war against Ukraine.
Similar operations involving police, immigration officials and military enlistment offices have previously taken place in other Russian regions.
Receiving a summons for military registration does not, by itself, mean that a person will immediately be sent into military service or required to sign a contract with the Defense Ministry.
Law enforcement agencies did not provide detailed figures for the total number of people detained, the grounds for their detention or the outcome of the checks.