Vladimir Putin has drafted another 150,000 troops into his Russian army after losing hundreds of thousands of men during his devastating war with Ukraine.
The staggering number of Russian citizens conscripted for military service in the spring recruitment drive – which began in April – is the highest figure for eight years.
Russia previously promised that the recruits aged 18 to 30 who are forcibly enlisted for one-year military service will not be sent to the conflict zone in Ukraine, but many will quickly come under pressure to sign contracts which will see them deployed straight on to the frontlines.
Critics say such conscripts are used in ‘cannon fodder’ roles.
The 150,000 figure – which has now been met – is set in a decree by tyrant Russian President Putin.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has drafted another 150,000 troops into his army. Pictured: Russian troops walk at a destroyed part of the Illich Iron and Steel Works Metallurgical Plant in Mariupol, in territory under the government of the Donetsk People’s Republic, eastern Ukraine, on May 18, 2022
In last year’s spring draft, 147,000 Russian citizens were recruited but at that time, the top age was 27 – it is now 30. Pictured: Russian army soldiers march during an action in support for the soldiers involved in the military operation in Ukraine, at the Mamaev Kurgan, a World War II memorial in Volgograd, Russia, July 11, 2022
Estimated figures by the UK MoD revealed that the total number of Russian casualties since the onset of Putin’s war on Ukraine in February 2022 had likely reached a staggering 500,000. Pictured: Putin attends a ceremony to launch several new facilities of the metallurgical industry in Russia’s regions via videoconference at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Monday, July 15, 2024
‘The spring 2024 conscription of citizens for military service is completed,’ said a statement from Russia’s Defence Ministry on Monday.
‘In compliance with Decree No. 222 issued by the president of the Russian Federation on March 31, 2024, 150,000 people were recruited and sent to the Russian Armed Forces and other military formations for military service in the spring of this year’.
Conscription commissions began on April 1 and conscripts started to be sent from gathering places in Russian regions to troops on April 15.
As in previous draft campaigns, young men who arrived at military commissariats had the option to choose military service in various armed services and branches of the Armed Forces depending on the condition of their health, the statement added.
A total of 15 flights by military transport aircraft, 14 military trains, 172 civil aviation flights, passenger trains and auto transport of military formations were involved in military carriages during the spring draft, it said.
In last year’s spring draft, 147,000 Russian citizens were recruited but at that time, the top age was 27.
But Putin raised it to 30 in July 2023 due to the need to recruit armed forces personnel for his war in Ukraine.
The legislation, which came into effect on January 1, means that men are now required to carry out a year of military service, or equivalent training during higher education, between the ages of 18 and 30, rather than 18 and 27.
The law also bans men from leaving Russia from the day they are summoned to a conscription office, and is now also poised to block citizens liable for conscription from leaving the country.
Ukraine telegram channel Pravda Gerashchenko said at the time: ‘It was possible to achieve such a quantity of fresh ‘cannon fodder’ thanks to an amendment to raise the conscription age.
‘Russians aged 18 to 30 will serve.’
Putin is currently facing his highest rate of losses within his army, with over 70,000 soldiers likely killed or wounded in May and June alone, the UK MoD estimated. Pictured: Russian soldiers in training exercises
Russian soldiers are seen on a tank in Volnovakha district in the pro-Russian separatists-controlled Donetsk, Ukraine on March 26, 2022
Compulsory military service has long been a sensitive issue in Russia, where many men go to great lengths to avoid being handed conscription papers during the twice-yearly call-up periods.
But desperate Putin is currently facing his highest rate of losses within his army, with over 70,000 soldiers likely killed or wounded in May and June alone, the UK Defence Ministry said Friday.
Previous estimated figures by the UK MoD revealed that the total number of Russian casualties since the onset of the war in February 2022 had likely reached 500,000.
In June, the Defence Ministry posted on X, formerly Twitter: ‘The total number of Russian casualties (killed and wounded) since the start of the war in February 2022 has now likely reached 500,000.
‘Russian losses have continued at a high level in 2024, and in May average Russian personnel casualties were over 1,200 per day – the highest reported since the start of the war’.
The increase in losses is connected to Russia opening its new front in the Kharkiv region while maintaining the same pressure rate over the entire 1,000km front line in the east and south of Ukraine, the statement added.
‘Although this new approach has increased pressure on the front lines an effective Ukrainian defense and a lack of Russian training reduces Russia’s ability to exploit any tactical successes despite attempting to stretch the frontline further,’ it said.
Pictured: Volunteers carry a sack with debris in Okhmatdyt, the biggest children’s hospital in Ukraine, in Kyiv on July 12, 2024, amid Russian invasion in Ukraine
Pictured: Rescuers continue search and rescue operation clearing rubble from a residential building destroyed by Russian shelling on July 15, 2024 in Myrnohrad, Ukraine
Pictured: A view of destroyed buildings aftermath of the Russian shelling in Myrnohrad, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on July 13, 2024. At least six civilians, including two 13-year-olds, were killed and over ten injured in Donetsk Oblast due to Russian attacks on July 12
Pictured: A view of the destruction of buildings by the continuing Russian army attacks in the town of Myrnohrad, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on July 13, 2024
The Russian conscription boost came as a Ukrainian kamikaze drone strike hit a major plant supplying electrical equipment to Putin’s energy industry.
Footage shows a huge explosion and fire at the Korenevsky Low-Voltage Equipment Plant in Kursk region.
The Russian Defence Ministry claimed to have shot down all 13 drones sent by Ukraine last night.
But it was clear that the Ukrainians penetrated the Kursk region to explode the plant which is seen as strategic to the Russian economy.
Firefighters were desperately seeking to bring the blaze under control as the inferno quickly spread to cover a staggering 5,400sq ft.
‘A Ukrainian copter [drone] dropped an explosive device on the low-voltage equipment plant in Korenevo,’ said regional governor Alexey Smirnov.
‘No workers were injured.
‘The fire in one of the technological shops is being extinguished by fire crews from two districts.’