The ban, approved last month by the Duma, Russia's lower parliamentary chamber, also bars all non-Russians from jobs with either organisation—although this was already the case in practice.

The new amendments will 'render it impossible for Russian citizens with dual nationalities to do their military service with the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB), or with the Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR),' which is responsible for espionage in other countries, a Kremlin statement said.

Currently all Russian males aged between 18 and 27 have to do a mandatory 18 months of military service. That is due to be cut to one year from January 1.

Russians in possession of a passport from a second country are not exempt from military service and will simply have to serve in other branches of the army.

The 1.3 million-strong Russian army has trouble actually calling up its conscripts.


Agencies