MOSCOW: Amid speculations of a potential escalation in Ukraine, Russia is set to commence its spring military draft, calling up tens of thousands of soldiers in a bid to bolster its armed forces and enhance military reserves.
Deputy head of the defense ministry’s mobilization department, Rear Admiral Vladimir Tsimlyansky, announced on Friday that the spring draft would commence from April 1. He emphasized that conscripts would not be deployed to regions including the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhizha regions, where Russia has exerted control since 2022.
While Moscow insists that conscripts are not sent to fight in Ukraine, concerns have been raised amidst persistent rumors of a potential new wave of mobilization for the ongoing conflict.
Last year, approximately 147,000 conscripts were drafted during the spring call-ups, with Russian men aged between 18 and 30 eligible for military service. Notably, the upper age limit for conscription was increased from 27 to 30 by lawmakers last year.
Russia’s Recruitment for War in Ukraine
Military service in Russia typically lasts for 12 months, during which conscripts often face pressure to sign voluntary military contracts, allowing them to be deployed for combat duties, including in Ukraine. Russia claims to have recruited over 400,000 fighters for its campaign in Ukraine last year, offering high salaries to incentivize enlistment.
Once conscripts complete their military service, they become part of Russia’s military reserves and could be deployed to the front lines if mobilized in the future.
Speculations about potential mobilization have intensified following President Putin’s recent re-election victory and the announcement by the defense ministry regarding the creation of two new armies by the end of the year. Additionally, the Kremlin’s attribution of last week’s deadly attack on a Moscow concert hall to Ukraine has fueled fresh concerns.
President Putin previously stated that approximately 617,000 Russian servicemen were deployed in the “conflict zone,” with plans to increase the overall size of the army to 1.32 million troops, up from 1.15 million, as per a decree issued last year.
