Russia is calling up 160,000 men for military service. This is the biggest draft in over 10 years.
The new recruits are aged 18-30. They’ll serve for a year. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin wants to boost his military to nearly 2.4 million personnel.
The draft is happening from April to July. Last year, Russia raised the age limit for conscription from 27 to 30. This year’s draft is the first to call up 160,000 men at once. The number will increase to 180,000 over the next three years.
Admiral Vladimir Simidlianskii says the new recruits won’t be sent to fight in Ukraine.
This comes as the US tries to negotiate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Fighting continues, with a recent attack on a power plant in Ukraine’s Kherson city leaving 45,000 people without electricity.
Russia had said it would stop targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Source: BBC
