Overview of Spring Conscription Campaign in Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin has recently approved a decree outlining the routine spring conscription campaign, summoning 150,000 citizens for mandatory military service, as per a document published on the Kremlin’s official website.
Compulsory Military Service in Russia
All male citizens in Russia are obligated to undergo a year-long military service or equivalent training during their higher education upon reaching the age of 18. This conscription system has been a longstanding requirement in the country.
Expansion of Conscription Age
In July, the lower house of Russia’s parliament passed a legislation to raise the maximum conscription age for men from 27 to 30. This amendment came into effect on January 1, 2024, allowing for broader inclusion in the mandatory military service pool.
Challenges and Controversies
Compulsory military service remains a sensitive topic in Russia, with many men resorting to various methods to avoid conscription during the semi-annual call-up periods. The avoidance of conscription papers is a common occurrence among eligible citizens.
Deployment Restrictions
Conscripts are legally prohibited from being deployed for combat missions outside of Russia. Additionally, they were exempted from a partial mobilisation in 2022, which involved at least 300,000 men with prior military training being called up to fight in Ukraine. However, there were instances where conscripts were mistakenly sent to the front lines.
Recent Conscription Campaigns
In September, President Putin authorised the call-up of 130,000 individuals for the autumn conscription campaign. Similarly, during the previous spring, Russia had planned to conscript 147,000 people.
