Putin Calls 150,000 Russian Conscripts Amid Russia-Ukraine War

Russian President Vladimir Putin has initiated the annual spring conscription campaign, mandating the enlistment of 150,000 citizens into military service, according to an announcement on the Kremlin’s website.

In Russia, it is compulsory for all male citizens to serve in the military for one year upon reaching 18 years of age, or alternatively, receive training during their tertiary education. This practice has been a long-established part of Russian law.

The conscription age range was recently widened when, in July, Russia’s lower parliamentary house passed a bill increasing the maximum age for conscription from 27 to 30 years old. This amendment, which took effect from January 1, 2024, broadens the pool of individuals eligible for compulsory service.

The topic of mandatory military service is contentious in Russia, with many eligible men seeking ways to evade conscription during the twice-yearly draft. Dodging the draft is a widespread phenomenon among those liable for service.

By law, conscripts are not to be sent on combat missions outside of Russia. They were also excluded from the partial mobilization in 2022, which saw at least 300,000 men with military experience being summoned to participate in the conflict in Ukraine. Despite this, there have been reported cases of conscripts being inadvertently deployed to combat zones.

For the autumn conscription cycle prior, Putin had called up 130,000 individuals, while the target for the preceding spring was set at 147,000 conscripts.