Putin orders Russia’s largest military call-up since 2011

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the conscription of 160,000 men aged 18-30, marking Russia’s largest draft in over a decade as the country expands its military forces.

This spring draft comes after Putin’s earlier announcement that Russia’s armed forces should grow to 2.39 million personnel, including 1.5 million active servicemen, within the next three years—an increase of 180,000 troops.

Vice Admiral Vladimir Tsimlyansky stated that the newly drafted soldiers would not be deployed to fight in Ukraine. However, reports suggest that conscripts have previously been sent into combat, especially in Russia’s border regions and during the early months of the war.

The draft, running from April to July, coincides with ongoing US efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine. Despite this, the war continues, with Ukrainian officials reporting that a Russian attack on a power facility in Kherson has left 45,000 people without electricity.