Russia has raised the age limit for conscription

As the armed conflict with Ukraine enters its eighteenth month, Russian lawmakers voted on Tuesday to raise the age limit for conscription from 27 to 30.

“From 1^R By January 2024, citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 will be called up for military service”According to this law, the Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, was adopted in the second and third reading, which is the most important stage of the country’s legislative process.

The move would significantly increase the number of potential reserves in the Russian military, while Moscow has already mobilized nearly 300,000 men for its September 2022 offensive in Ukraine. The law also prohibits them from leaving Russian territory once the conscription office sends them a mandatory order.

Before entering into force, the text still needs to be approved by the Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, and signed by President Vladimir Putin, usually a formality.

Another law voted by Russian parliamentarians on Tuesday strengthens penalties for defaulters by imposing fines of up to 30,000 rubles (about 300 euros) for failing to appear at a police station. “Without Good Reason”After obtaining a mandatory order.

The Russian parliament already adopted a law in April to mobilize Russians into the military by expanding the means of issuing summonses. This law made life more difficult for defaulters by depriving them of the opportunity to work as entrepreneurs or self-employed.

Many Russians who were required to do a year of compulsory military service have so far evaded summonses by not going to their official addresses or by bribing recruiters or doctors.

The Kremlin has been reluctant to launch a new wave of offensive mobilization in Ukraine for months. The former caused tens of thousands of Russians to fly abroad.