Putin Orders Conscription of 133,000 Servicemen in Russia’s Autumn Draft

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the conscription of 133,000 new servicemen for Russia’s autumn draft, which starts on October 1 and will run until the end of the year, as outlined in a Kremlin decree published on Monday.

According to the decree, published in a state-run newspaper, the draft will target citizens aged 18 to 30 who are not in the reserve and are subject to conscription under federal law, with a goal of enlisting 133,000 individuals.

Vice-Admiral Vladimir Tsimlyansky, head of Russia’s conscription office, confirmed that the conscription period remains the same, requiring a 12-month service in military units within Russia. He added that conscripts will not be called up for participation in what Russia terms its “special military operation” in the newly annexed regions.

Russia refers to its ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which began with a full-scale invasion in February 2022, as a special military operation. In contrast, Ukraine and its allies describe it as an unprovoked, imperialistic effort to seize territory.

In late 2022, Russia’s annexation of parts of southeastern Ukraine was widely condemned by the international community, with the region rebranded as “new areas.”

Amid growing security concerns along Russia’s western borders, Putin recently ordered an increase in the size of the Russian army by 180,000 troops, aiming to reach 1.5 million active servicemen, a move that would position Russia as the second-largest military globally, following China.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, U.S. President Joe Biden, and other NATO leaders have criticized Putin, labeling him as the primary aggressor in the Ukraine conflict and a threat to neighboring countries.