Russia Extends Age Limit For Draft , Amid Ongoing War in Ukraine.
On July 25, the lower house of Russia's parliament
approved a bill to extend the upper age limit
for the country's compulsory military draft. .
ABC reports that the decision to raise the age
from 27 to 30 comes amid an effort to bolster
the military amid Russia's war with Ukraine.
In order to become a law, the bill still needs
to be approved by the upper house of the
parliament and President Vladimir Putin. .
In order to become a law, the bill still needs
to be approved by the upper house of the
parliament and President Vladimir Putin. .
The bill is an effort to expand the ranks
of the Russian army as fighting in Ukraine
has now been ongoing for 18 months.
While the bill initially would have also raised the lower
age for the draft from 18 to 21, lawmakers endorsed
the Defense Minister's request to set the draft at 18-30.
ABC reports that the new
draft requirements would
be put into place in 2024. .
According to Russian authorities, draftees are not
deployed to Ukraine, as forces on the front
are comprised of volunteers and reservists. .
However, ABC reports that Russian media outlets
have shown the military attempting to coerce
draftees into joining the war effort as volunteers.
The push to bolster the military comes
as Ukraine continues a counteroffensive
along parts of the over 625-mile-long front. .
Russia's current draft, in place for all Russian men
between the ages of 18 and 27, grants deferments to
students, people with chronic illnesses and others.