Mobilization in Russia: Why Kremlin launches largest draft in 14 years
Photo: Russia announces the largest military draft (Getty Images)
Russia has announced the largest conscription of draftees in the past 14 years. The Center for Countering Disinformation (CPD) explained that this move is part of a strategy, according to the Telegram channel of the Center for Countering Disinformation of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the largest spring conscription in the past 14 years. The Russian Defense Ministry plans to draft 160,000 conscripts — more than in previous years of the full-scale war.
For comparison, in the spring of 2022, 134,500 people were drafted, and in the fall — 120,000. In 2023, the spring draft amounted to 147,000, while the fall draft reached 130,000. In 2024, 150,000 were sent to the army in the spring and 133,000 in the fall.
Officially, the Kremlin assures that conscripts are not sent to war. However, in practice, they are forced to sign contracts, after which they end up on the front lines. In this way, Russia attempts to compensate for significant military losses.
The CPD believes that the increase in army personnel indicates the Kremlin's intent to continue hostilities despite official statements about readiness for negotiations.
Russia's mobilization
Russia has been actively recruiting prisoners for the war against Ukraine since the first year of the invasion. Initially, this process was organized by the founder of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, but after his death, the Russian National Guard began recruiting former Wagner fighters to strengthen control.
The Russian Defense Ministry is also enlisting women from prisons, using them as assault troops and snipers. Recently, the State Duma allowed those convicted of rape to sign contracts to participate in the war against Ukraine.
In October last year, reports emerged that Russia planned to send about 20,000 detainees from pretrial detention centers to the front.
