Putin Calls Up Record 160,000 Conscripts as Russia Expands Military Amid Ukraine War

President Vladimir Putin

Moscow’s Largest Draft Since 2011 Coincides with Rising Tensions and NATO Expansion

Russia has announced its largest military draft in over a decade, with 160,000 men aged 18-30 called up for conscription, signaling an intensified effort to expand its armed forces. This comes months after President Vladimir Putin pledged to increase the overall size of Russia’s military to 2.39 million personnel, including 1.5 million active servicemen—a boost of 180,000 soldiers over the next three years.

Russia’s Growing Military Amid Continued Ukraine Conflict

The conscription drive, running from April to July, is part of Russia’s biannual draft. However, this year’s figures surpass previous recruitment levels, reflecting Moscow’s need to replenish troop numbers amid significant battlefield losses in Ukraine. Independent reports from BBC and Mediazona have verified at least 100,000 Russian soldiers killed, with estimates suggesting the actual death toll could be twice as high.

While Russian officials claim the new conscripts will not be deployed to Ukraine, past reports indicate that some were sent to the frontlines, particularly in Russia’s border regions. Additionally, Moscow has ramped up recruitment of contract soldiers and foreign fighters, including thousands from North Korea, to sustain its military campaign.

Escalating Tensions with NATO and Ukraine

The draft comes amid rising geopolitical tensions, as Russia faces increasing pressure from NATO’s eastward expansion. Since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, NATO has added Finland and Sweden to its ranks, with Finland now sharing a 1,343 km (834-mile) border with Russia.

In response to security threats, Finland announced plans to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, allowing it to resume the use of anti-personnel mines. Poland and the Baltic states have made similar decisions, citing military threats from Russia. Finland also pledged to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP, up from 2.4% in 2024.

Continued Violence Despite Ceasefire Talks

While the U.S. has attempted to broker a ceasefire, Moscow has rejected a full truce. On Tuesday, Ukraine reported a Russian attack on a power facility in Kherson, cutting electricity to 45,000 people, despite Russia’s previous assurances that it would refrain from targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

With the war showing no signs of slowing, Russia’s largest conscription effort since 2011 underscores Putin’s commitment to sustaining military operations while reinforcing the country’s armed forces amid mounting losses and geopolitical pressures.