Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the conscription of 160,000 more troops into military service, marking the country’s largest military call-up in a decade. The decree, reported by news agency Interfax, applies to all citizens aged between 18 and 30.
This move comes amid an ongoing crisis with Ukraine, with Russia condemning the potential deployment of Western peacekeepers in the region.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, warned that such a move could lead to a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO.
The conscription applies to citizens aged 18-30, with 160,000 troops set to be enlisted. This move marks Russia’s largest military call-up since 2011, with staffing in Russia’s armed forces increasing to nearly 2.4 million.
The development comes as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine enters its fourth year, with France and the UK leading efforts to form a coalition to deploy European armed forces to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the need for Europe to defend itself, while French President Emmanuel Macron hosted a summit to discuss bolstering support for Ukraine.
