Russian President Putin Signs Decree for Spring Conscription Campaign

Defense News ,Russia :-  Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a decree outlining the spring conscription campaign, which entails calling up 150,000 citizens for mandatory military service, as reported on the Kremlin's official website. This initiative is in line with Russia's longstanding practice of requiring all eligible men to serve a year in the military or undergo equivalent training during higher education, commencing at the age of 18.

Notably, the State Duma of Russia, the lower house of parliament, passed a resolution in July to extend the maximum conscription age for men from 27 to 30. This legislative change officially took effect on January 1, 2024.

The issue of compulsory military service holds significant sensitivity within Russia, evidenced by the efforts of many men to evade conscription during the semi-annual call-up periods. It's essential to highlight that conscripts are legally prohibited from deployment in combat situations outside of Russia. Moreover, exemptions were granted during a limited mobilization in 2022, which saw at least 300,000 men with prior military training called upon for service in Ukraine. However, despite these exemptions, some conscripts were inadvertently deployed to the frontlines.

This spring, President Putin's decree calls for the enlistment of 150,000 individuals, following similar initiatives in previous years. In September, an order was issued for the autumn conscription campaign, summoning 130,000 individuals, while last spring witnessed a planned enlistment of 147,000 citizens.

Putin's decree underscores Russia's ongoing commitment to maintaining its military readiness and personnel strength. As such, the spring conscription campaign serves as a critical component of Russia's national defense strategy.

The decree signed by President Putin signals the commencement of the spring conscription campaign, calling upon eligible citizens to fulfill their mandatory military service obligations. This development reaffirms Russia's dedication to safeguarding its national security interests through a robust military apparatus.