Russia’s lower house of parliament passed a law on Tuesday to raise the age limit for compulsory military service from 27 to 30 after the conflict with Ukraine entered its 18th month.
(RFI) “From January 1, 2024, citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 will be called up for military service,” says the law, passed in second and third readings by the State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, the most important stage of the legislative process in Russia.
The measure will increase the number of potential reservists in the Russian army, of which Moscow has already mobilized nearly 300,000 by September 2022 for its offensive in Ukraine.
The law prohibits conscripts from leaving Russian territory from the moment they are called up.
To enter into force, the text will have to be ratified by the Federation Council – the Senate – and signed by President Vladimir Putin.
Convocation sparked stampede
The mobilization of Russians into the army was facilitated in April by a law hastily passed by the Russian parliament, which expanded the means of sending summonses.
Those who refused to answer the call were deprived of working for someone else, receiving loans or disposing of their house or car.
Until now, many Russians who were supposed to do their compulsory one-year military service dodged the call-ups by skipping their official residences or bribing recruitment staff and doctors.
For months, the Kremlin has denied that it will launch a new wave of mobilization for the offensive in Ukraine.