Russia’s largest military call-up in years, Putin summons 160,000 men: “Authorities are devising new ways to replenish the army”
Putin has increased the size of Russia’s army amid growing tensions with the western world.
Vladimir Putin has ordered the call-up of 160,000 men aged 18-30 by July in what is Russia’s highest drive to recruit conscripts since 2011.
The Russian leader has been keen to grow the overall size of his military to almost 2.39 million and the number of active servicemen to 1.5 million; the BBC say that Russia are expected a rise of 180,000 over the coming three years.
Call-ups, which will be sent out by both mail and online, come as the maximum age of conscription was raised from 27 to 30.
The timing of the call-up is interesting as for a short while now, Russia has been relying on North Korean soldiers to make up the numbers in the Kursk region of Ukraine as the United States continues talks to stop the conflict; Putin rejected Trump’s recent call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine and Politico says Ukraine warned the Kremlin is preparing for a massive new military offensive. “The forthcoming draft campaign is in no way connected with the special military operation in Ukraine,” the Russian Defense Ministry said on social media.
Deputy Chief of the Russian General Staff’s Main Organizational and Mobilization Department Vice Admiral Vladimir Tsimlyansky, says that a third of spring draft conscripts will be sent to training centres to gain special military skills.
Exclusive - Newly obtained footage from Russia's Sergievsky Training Ground showing North Korean troops being outfitted in Russian gear in preparation for deployment to Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/01Z4jZIiOe
— SPRAVDI — Stratcom Centre (@StratcomCentre) October 18, 2024
At present, Russian law prohibits sending conscripts drafted for mandatory service to active combat zones without proper training. However, various reports have emerged to suggest otherwise, with information being spread that new conscripts have been, as put by CNN, “pressured or misled into signing contracts that result in their deployment to the front lines in Ukraine.”
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