In a bold move signaling escalating military ambitions, President Vladimir Putin has initiated the largest conscription drive in Russia since 2011, calling up 160,000 men aged 18 to 30. This unprecedented draft is part of Russia's strategic initiative to expand its military forces, particularly amid ongoing tensions resulting from the invasion of Ukraine.

This spring conscription, running from April to July, follows Putin’s earlier announcement about increasing Russia's military personnel to approximately 2.39 million, with active servicemen projected to reach 1.5 million. This effort aims to bolster Russia's military ranks by 180,000 over the next three years.

Despite official claims from Vice Admiral Vladimir Tsimlyansky stating that the new conscripts would not be deployed to combat in Ukraine, reports have circulated of conscripts facing deadly encounters in conflict zones. During the early months of the ongoing war, cases were documented of young conscripts being thrust into the frontline.

As of now, the conflict shows no signs of abating. On the same day the draft was announced, Ukraine reported a Russian attack on a power facility in Kherson, which left approximately 45,000 residents without electricity. Furthermore, Russia has claimed territory gains, including the capture of the Ukrainian village Rozlyiv in Donetsk.

Notably, this spring draft marks a shift in recruitment strategy, as it exceeds the previous year’s numbers by 10,000 young men. A significant change in policy has also occurred, with the maximum age for conscription raised from 27 to 30, which has widened the pool of eligible candidates. Besides traditional call-up notices sent via mail, notifications are now also being dispatched through the state services website, Gosuslugi.

In addition to the regular conscription drives, Russia has ramped up its recruitment of contract soldiers and even enlisted thousands from North Korea, responding to reported military losses in Ukraine, which have been verified by sources including the BBC and Mediazona, estimating over 100,000 military fatalities.

The drafting of additional soldiers comes in the context of increasing perceived threats from NATO and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the military size has been expanded thrice under Putin’s directive.

The implications of these developments extend beyond Russia's borders. Countries like Finland and Sweden have responded to Russia's aggression by reassessing their own military strategies, including Finland’s recent decision to potentially embrace the use of anti-personnel mines and raise defense spending to 3% of its GDP. This is a direct reversal of earlier disarmament commitments, a move influenced by the perceived military threats emanating from Russia.

As the situation continues to evolve, the international community watches closely, concerned about the ramifications of Russia's militarization and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.