Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has officially approved a decree initiating the customary spring conscription drive, with reports citing the Kremlin’s website indicating the summoning of 150,000 citizens for compulsory military service.
In Russia, all males aged 18 and older are mandated to undergo a year-long military service or equivalent training, a cornerstone of the nation’s defense structure.
The State Duma, Russia’s lower house of parliament, passed legislation in July, increasing the maximum conscription age for men to 30 from 27, effective January 1, 2024, reflecting adjustments in military requirements.
Conscription remains a contentious issue in Russia, with many individuals seeking ways to evade compulsory service during the biannual call-up periods.
It’s crucial to note that conscripts are legally barred from participating in combat operations outside of Russia. However, exceptions have occurred, such as in 2022 when a limited mobilization effort aimed to assemble a force of at least 300,000 men with prior military experience for operations in Ukraine. During this period, conscripts were exempted, though isolated instances of conscripts being deployed to the front lines have been reported.
This decree follows a similar move by Putin in September, where he authorized the call-up of 130,000 individuals for the autumn conscription drive. In the previous spring, Russia had planned to conscript 147,000 individuals, highlighting the nation’s ongoing commitment to maintaining its military readiness.
