Vladimir Putin has initiated the largest conscription effort in Russia since 2011, in response to comments by Donald Trump expressing his displeasure with the Russian leader.
Approximately 160,000 men aged 18-30 are being drafted as Russia aims to bolster its military forces. This draft period is scheduled to occur between April and July.
The conscription aligns with Putin’s intentions to expand Russia’s military size to nearly 2.39 million personnel, with a targeted increase in active servicemen to 1.5 million. This expansion plan involves adding 180,000 military personnel over three years.
Despite U.S. efforts to broker a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, Putin’s decision to escalate the military comes after Trump expressed frustration over Putin’s criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership.
Reports indicate that Putin suggested establishing a transitional government in Ukraine, which could potentially displace Zelenskyy.
Trump expressed his anger and frustration, stating, “If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault — which it might not be — but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,” Trump told NBC News.
“That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States,” he continued. “There will be a 25 percent tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil.”
Although the military’s numbers are set to increase, Vice Adm Vladimir Tsimlyansky assured that the new recruits would not be deployed to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
This conscription effort marks the third instance of military expansion since Putin initiated his “military operation” in Ukraine. Russia has been calling up servicemen in spring and autumn for a one-year term. The current draft of 160,000 men represents an increase of 10,000 compared to the same period in 2024.
Eligible individuals will receive call-up notices both by mail and via notifications on the state services website, Gosuslugi.
In the official announcement about the conscription, Russia also mentioned that “soldiers, sailors, sergeants and non-commissioned officers whose conscripted military service has expired” will be discharged from military service.