Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the recruitment of 135,000 new soldiers into the army by the end of the year, according to the British Ministry of Defence.
Foreign media report that this move marks yet another desperate attempt by the Russian leader to strengthen his military forces and push for a breakthrough on the front lines amid heavy losses in Ukraine.
This decision comes after the spring conscription earlier this year, which brought in around 160,000 troops — the largest recruitment drive since 2011.
Last month, Russian lawmakers supported a bill introducing year-round military conscription, instead of limiting it to spring and autumn. However, actual deployment into service will still occur only twice a year.
Moscow is now racing to fill the gaps in its army as the war against Ukraine enters its fourth year, writes A2 CNN.
All Russian men aged 18 to 30 are required to serve one year in the military, though exemptions exist for various reasons.
While Russian authorities claim that the army does not rely on conscripts, human rights activists and independent media have consistently contradicted these statements, reporting that untrained recruits are being sent directly to the front lines.
When Russia invaded Ukraine, its armed forces were estimated at around one million soldiers. Last year, Putin claimed that more than 700,000 Russian troops were actively fighting in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Kyiv asserts that it has killed over one million Russian soldiers since the start of the invasion.
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