In a significant military development, Russian President Vladimir Putin has authorized the conscription of 160,000 men aged 18 to 30 as part of the country’s ongoing efforts to expand its armed forces.
This marks Russia’s largest conscription drive since 2011, according to a report from the BBC.
The large-scale draft aligns with Putin’s earlier declaration that Russia must boost its military strength to 2.39 million, with 1.5 million active combat troops making up the bulk of its defense force.
Despite concerns about the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Vice Admiral Vladimir Tsimlyansky clarified that the newly drafted soldiers will not be sent to the frontlines of what Moscow still refers to as its “special military operation”.
The current spring draft, scheduled to run from April through July, comes as the United States continues diplomatic efforts to negotiate a ceasefire and bring an end to the prolonged fighting.
Russia usually conducts mandatory drafts twice a year — in spring and autumn — but this season’s call-up stands out, exceeding the previous year’s number by 10,000 recruits.
This increased intake follows a legislative change last year that widened the eligibility for military service by raising the upper draft age limit from 27 to 30, allowing the government to draw from a larger pool of potential conscripts.
