Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the largest military draft in ten years, with over 135,000 conscripts set to join the armed forces this autumn.
According to the Kremlin’s decree, men aged 18 to 30 will be drafted into regular military service between October and December 2025. Typically, this service lasts one year at bases within Russia.
While the draft does not officially imply deployment to the Ukrainian front—since that would fall under a formal mobilization—military analysts warn that trained conscripts are often later sent into combat zones.
The move highlights Russia’s struggle to sustain manpower as it faces heavy casualties along the 1,000-kilometer front line in Ukraine.
This draft is the largest autumn recruitment since 2016, signaling intensified pressure on Russia’s military amid its ongoing war efforts.
