Putin Raises Spring Draft Quota to 160,000 as Military Expansion Continues

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the conscription of 160,000 men by July 15, marking an increase from previous drafts as Moscow aims to bolster its military forces.

Russia conducts conscription campaigns twice a year, with men aged 18 to 30 required to serve. Both the Kremlin and the Defense Ministry maintain that conscripts are not sent to combat zones, and they assert that the draft is not linked to the conflict in Ukraine.

Nevertheless, Ukraine has frequently reported capturing Russian conscripts, and Putin has previously acknowledged that some were unintentionally sent into battle at the onset of the 2022 invasion.

A decree published on Monday stated that this spring’s draft will enlist 160,000 individuals, an increase from 150,000 in the previous year and 134,500 in 2022.

Additionally, Putin directed Russia’s military to grow to 1.5 million active personnel by 2026, which would add approximately 180,000 soldiers.

The Defense Ministry emphasized on social media, «The upcoming drafting campaign is absolutely not related to the special military operation in Ukraine.»

In addition to the standard conscription, Russia has enlisted hundreds of thousands of contract soldiers for the conflict in Ukraine, offering attractive salaries and substantial signing bonuses.

Last year, Putin raised the upper age limit for conscription from 27 to 30 years. The current draft period is set to occur from April 1 to July 15.