Highlights: Russia to launch spring military conscription campaign. Many Russians fear a second wave of mobilization, while 617,000 Russian soldiers are already in Ukraine. But the army assures us: these new recruits will not be sent to Ukraine. All conscripts will carry out their service, lasting one year, on “ the territory of the Russian Federation ”. It is unclear how many young Russians are targeted by the spring campaign this year. Last summer, Russia adopted a law extending the age limit for conscription from 27 to 30 from January 1, 2024.

Many Russians fear a second wave of mobilization, while 617,000 Russian soldiers are already in Ukraine.

Russia to launch spring military conscription campaign

Many Russians fear a second wave of mobilization, while 617,000 Russian soldiers are already in Ukraine.

A Russian army soldier faces a tank during a weapons exhibition in Saint Petersburg, February 24, 2024 (illustrative image). AP - Dmitri Lovetsky

By: RFI with AFP

Russia

will launch its spring military conscription campaign on Monday which will concern tens of thousands of young people aged 18 to 30, the Russian general staff announced on Friday March 29

“

The spring military conscription campaign will begin on April 1

,” a senior General Staff official, Vice Admiral Vladimir Tsimlianski, said at a briefing. A campaign organized twice a year.

But the army assures us: these new recruits will not be sent to

Ukraine

. According to Vladimir Tsimlianski, all conscripts will carry out their service, lasting one year, on “

the territory of the Russian Federation

”. They “

will not be sent to the deployment posts of the armed forces in the new Russian regions

”, namely the four Ukrainian regions (those of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia) annexed by Russia in 2022, and “

will not participate in the

Russian special military operation, assured Vladimir Tsimlianski.

Fears

Russia has been leading an offensive in Ukraine for more than two years, which has already led the Russian authorities to decree a mobilization of more than 300,000 people in the fall of 2022. Many Russians fear a second wave of mobilization, despite assurances from the President Vladimir Putin, re-elected in March, that it “

is not necessary

”.

In 2023, the spring military conscription campaign involved some 147,000 men in Russia, the autumn campaign saw 130,000 conscripts join the Russian army, according to the Ministry of Defense. It is unclear how many young Russians are targeted by the spring campaign this year. Last summer, Russia adopted a law extending the age limit for conscription from 27 to 30 from January 1, 2024.

Several advances in Ukraine

In recent months, Russia has claimed several advances in Ukraine, facing a Ukrainian army lacking men and ammunition due to the running out of Western aid. Last December, Vladimir Putin said at his annual press conference that 617,000 Russian troops were in Ukraine as part of the Russian military operation.

Russia to launch spring military conscription campaign

Russia to launch spring military conscription campaign

Fears

Several advances in Ukraine

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