Putin Orders Largest Draft in 14 Years

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree for the spring conscription of 160,000 men, marking the largest draft in 14 years, to bolster Russia's military ranks amid ongoing tensions with Ukraine. This conscription, targeting men aged 18 to 30, will run from April 1 to June 15, with the government and regional authorities tasked with implementing the draft. Despite assurances from Russian authorities that conscripts are not sent into combat in Ukraine, there have been reports of conscripts being mistakenly deployed. These efforts are part of broader measures to increase Russia's military personnel to 1.5 million by 2026. The conscription drive comes as Russia faces international scrutiny and internal challenges, including independent media crackdowns and efforts to recruit contract soldiers with financial incentives for the conflict in Ukraine.