Moscow will implement psychological monitoring of military personnel to identify those at risk of behavioural problems under a draft presidential decree, Vedomosti reported on December 23.

The decree, published on December 21 and expected to take effect immediately upon presidential signature, tasks Russia's Defence Ministry with establishing procedures to screen servicemen. The document does not specify which military department will conduct the assessments.

Russia's Defenders of the Fatherland foundation currently provides psychological assistance to veterans of Moscow's military campaign in Ukraine, disabled servicemen and bereaved families. The state-backed organisation operates separately from the proposed Defence Ministry screening programme.

Foundation psychologists cannot formally diagnose mental disorders or place patients under psychiatric observation, according to the government services portal. Combat veterans face heightened risk of post-traumatic stress disorder, which requires diagnosis by a psychiatrist, the World Health Organisation states.

Russian psychiatric research indicates that 3% to 11% of combat participants develop PTSD, with rates exceeding 30% amongst wounded personnel, according to St Petersburg's V.M. Bekhterev Centre for Psychiatry and Neurology.

Olesya Tolstukhina, a clinical psychologist at Moscow-based medical firm Doctor Nearby, said behavioural problems referenced in the decree likely stem from varying degrees of PTSD. Symptoms include depression, unpredictable aggression, social isolation, cognitive difficulties, sleep disruption, intrusive memories and substance abuse.

Effective diagnosis requires clinical interviews with testing protocols, followed by rehabilitation programmes, physical therapies and group counselling. Psychiatric medication treats acute episodes, with recovery dependent on individual pre-trauma psychological health and injury severity, Tolstukhina said.

Ksenia Iordanyan, a psychologist at digital platform Alter, said military behavioural issues can include excessive authoritarianism and empathy deficits. Proper screening requires sufficient specialist personnel to conduct regular assessments during active service and following demobilisation.

Moscow initiated psychological rehabilitation programmes for senior military officers in February 2023, with plans to extend coverage to all personnel involved in the Ukraine conflict, Vedomosti previously reported.