Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree initiating the routine spring conscription campaign, summoning 150,000 citizens for mandatory military service. The document, released on the Kremlin’s website, outlines the call-up procedure, which occurs twice annually, in spring and fall.
In Russia, all men are obligated to serve a year-long term in the military or undergo equivalent training during their higher education, starting at the age of 18. Notably, the maximum conscription age for men was recently raised from 27 to 30 through legislation passed by the lower house of parliament in July, which came into effect on January 1, 2024.
Compulsory military service remains a contentious issue in Russia, with many individuals striving to avoid conscription during the biannual call-up periods. Conscripts are legally restricted from being deployed to fight outside Russian borders and were spared from a partial mobilization in 2022, which saw around 300,000 men with prior military experience being summoned to combat in Ukraine, although some conscripts were mistakenly sent to the frontlines.
In the autumn of the previous year, President Putin authorized the call-up of 130,000 individuals for military service. During the preceding spring, Russia had planned to conscript 147,000 citizens into its armed forces.
The spring conscription campaign signifies the government’s ongoing efforts to maintain and reinforce its military capabilities, ensuring a sufficient pool of trained personnel to address national security concerns and safeguard the country’s interests.
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