Putin Initiates Largest Military Draft in Over a Decade

President Vladimir Putin has begun a major enlistment of 160,000 young men in an effort to bolster Russia's military capabilities. This call-up, the largest since 2011, comes as the nation faces ongoing hostilities in Ukraine and increased international tensions.

President Vladimir Putin has initiated a substantial call-up of 160,000 men aged between 18 and 30, marking Russia's largest military conscription effort since 2011. This significant mobilization comes as part of the country's strategy to expand its military force, with the goal of increasing overall manpower to approximately 2.39 million active servicemen within the next three years.

Vice Admiral Vladimir Tsimlyansky stated that the new conscripts would not be deployed to the frontlines in Ukraine, where Russia refers to its actions as a "special military operation." Nevertheless, there are ongoing concerns regarding the safety of conscripts, as reports have surfaced of young men being sent into combat and subsequently casualties occurring in northern regions.

The current draft, scheduled from April to July, has been put in place amidst a backdrop of relentless violence in Ukraine, which recently saw a Russian attack that left 45,000 residents in Kherson without power. Although the U.S. has attempted to negotiate a ceasefire, Russian representatives have declined this proposal while asserting that attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure will cease.

Remarkably, this year's conscription is 10,000 higher than the previous year's call-up for the same period. The Russian government has expanded the eligible age for conscription from 27 to 30 in the past year, which has resulted in a larger pool of potential recruits. Notifications for service are being dispatched through traditional mail and also through the state services website, Gosuslugi, with reports suggesting notifications were sent as early as April 1st.

As discontent regarding military conscription grows within the nation, many young Russians are seeking alternatives to military service. Human rights advocate Timofey Vaskin has noted that the conscription process has transformed into a “lottery,” with the government continuously seeking new means to fill military ranks. Beyond this draft, Russia has also employed commercial soldiers and sourced personnel from North Korea to meet its military needs, signaling extensive losses in Ukraine with over 100,000 casualties reported.

In an evolving defense landscape, Russia has made a strategic decision to grow its military in response to perceived threats from NATO expansion, particularly following the inclusion of Finland and Sweden into the alliance. Finland’s government announced a policy change regarding the use of anti-personnel mines, citing military advice as a rationale, a move that echoes similar decisions made by Poland and the Baltic states due to Russian aggression.

With international tensions running high and military preparations intensifying, the situation remains critical as the war in Ukraine continues to unfold.