Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a significant conscription drive on Monday, calling up 135,000 men for routine military service. This initiative marks the largest autumn conscription effort since 2016, intensifying Russia’s military recruitment amid ongoing tensions related to its conflict in Ukraine.
The conscription targets men aged 18 to 30, who are required to serve for one year at military bases within Russia. Although the primary purpose of this conscription is not to deploy these soldiers to combat zones, there have been reports of some conscripts being sent to the front lines in Ukraine, raising concerns about their safety and the nature of their service.
This year’s conscription campaign is part of Russia’s biannual practice, which occurs each spring and autumn. The decree issued by Putin mandates that these 135,000 citizens be called up from October 1 to December 31, 2025. When combined with the 160,000 individuals conscripted during the spring, this year is poised to set a record for the largest total call-up since 2016.
Typically, the spring conscription drive sees a higher number of recruits, coinciding with the graduation of many young people from schools and universities. However, the current geopolitical climate has elevated the importance of these recruitment efforts.
Since the onset of the full-scale military offensive against Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has adopted a heightened military posture, reflected in increased military expenditure and an expansion of its armed forces. In a strategic move in September 2024, Putin announced plans to enlarge the military to encompass 1.5 million active soldiers, positioning Russia among the nations with the largest military forces.
Moreover, annual conscription numbers have seen a consistent increase, with a reported average rise of about five percent each year since the conflict began. The implications of these conscription efforts raise questions regarding Russia’s military strategy and its commitment to maintaining a robust fighting force amidst ongoing international scrutiny and conflict.
