President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree calling up 160,000 young men for military service, marking one of Russia’s largest conscription efforts in over a decade. The move comes at a pivotal time in the war in Ukraine and raises major questions about Putin’s long-term strategy, Russia’s military capacity, and the future of international negotiations.
This is not a voluntary enlistment program. It is a legally mandated draft that is part of Russia’s twice-yearly conscription cycle. The spring phase, which runs from April through July, applies to men between the ages of 18 and 30. According to the official decree, “all citizens aged between 18 and 30” are eligible for the draft.
This year’s conscription call is larger than in previous years. Russian state news agency TASS reported that the 160,000 men being called up represents “an increase of 10,000 on last year’s spring drive, and a rise of more than 15,000 compared to three years ago.” The Kremlin has also expanded the draft pool by raising the maximum age limit from 27 to 30, a change that took effect in January 2024.
Russia’s defense officials claim that conscripts will not be sent to fight in Ukraine. Vice Admiral Vladimir Tsimlyansky stated that “the new conscripts would not be sent to fight in Ukraine for what Russia calls its ‘special military operation.’” However, past reports contradict that claim. In the early months of the war, some conscripts were sent into combat zones and were killed. More recently, there have been reports that some drafted soldiers are pressured into signing contracts that allow the military to legally deploy them to the front lines.
Timofey Vaskin, a Russian human rights lawyer, warned that the draft is becoming unpredictable. He told independent media that “every new call-up since the start of the war had become a lottery” and added that “authorities are coming up with new forms of refilling the army.”
Why Now? The War’s Heavy Toll on Russia
Putin’s decision to expand the army is directly tied to the toll the war in Ukraine has taken on Russian forces. According to estimates from Ukraine’s Armed Forces and echoed by the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense, Russia has lost more than 768,000 troops through death, injury, capture, or desertion since the invasion began in 2022.
Independent analysis by the BBC and Russian outlet Mediazona confirmed over 100,000 Russian military deaths. The true number is likely much higher. In November 2024, Russian losses reportedly reached their highest level since the war began, with 2,030 troops lost in a single day.
To recover from these staggering losses, Putin has steadily expanded the military. Three years ago, Russia had around 1 million military personnel. Now, according to Interfax, the number stands at 1.5 million, with total military staffing reaching 2.39 million. A report from Euronews explained that “Putin signed a law raising the maximum age for conscription from 27 to 30,” helping to support the larger recruitment effort.
North Korea’s Growing Role in Russia’s War
One of the most surprising developments in recent months has been North Korea’s involvement in the war. South Korean intelligence reports that North Korea has sent an additional 3,000 soldiers to support Russian forces, especially in the Kursk region near the border with Ukraine. The area has been the site of frequent attacks and is a strategic location in Russia’s efforts to block Ukrainian advances.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has expressed strong support for Russia’s invasion. A February 2025 visit to the Kang Kon Military Academy in Pyongyang showed Kim observing military training, a sign of his commitment to preparing troops for overseas involvement. CNN reported that “Moscow has been relying on assistance from North Korean soldiers to push back Kyiv’s advances in the Kursk region of Russia.”
This partnership gives Russia a temporary boost in manpower but also signals how isolated the country has become. As relations with Western nations have declined, Putin has turned to countries like North Korea and Iran for support.
Peace Talks
The military buildup comes at a time when the United States is trying to restart peace negotiations. According to U.S. officials, Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev is expected to visit Washington soon to meet with Steve Witkoff, a top advisor to President Trump. This will be the first high-level Russian visit to the U.S. since the war began in 2022.
CNN reports that this visit is “a further step in the marked warming in relations between the two countries since President Donald Trump returned to office in January.” However, Trump himself acknowledged that Russia may not be eager to settle the conflict. In an interview with Newsmax, he said Russia might be “dragging their feet.”
Putin recently rejected a call from Trump for an immediate ceasefire. Instead, he insisted on major concessions, including the removal of U.S. sanctions. This demand came just after the White House had announced a temporary halt in attacks on Black Sea shipping lanes, part of an effort to ease tensions.
While some agreements are being made, such as Russia promising not to strike Ukrainian energy facilities, violations continue. Just this week, Ukraine reported that a Russian missile strike on a power facility in Kherson left 45,000 people without electricity. Russian officials claimed Ukrainian drones had launched the attacks, attempting to shift blame and avoid responsibility.
The United States and Europe are responding to Russia’s draft with growing concern. NATO has expanded its presence, especially along the Russian border. Finland and Sweden have officially joined NATO, with Finland now sharing the longest NATO border with Russia at 834 miles. In response to what they call “growing threats,” Finland, Poland, and the Baltic states are abandoning past restrictions and preparing for possible conflict. Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said that his country will resume the use of anti-personnel mines based on military advice and added that “the people of Finland had nothing to worry about.”
Finland has also announced an increase in defense spending, raising it to 3 percent of GDP, up from 2.4 percent the previous year. This shift reflects how seriously Europe is taking the possibility of wider conflict.
Putin’s Gamble: Growing the Army or Fueling the Fire?
Putin’s draft of 160,000 conscripts is part of a much larger strategy to rebuild and expand the Russian military. But it also reflects the cost of the war and the challenges Russia faces. Although the Kremlin insists that these new recruits will not be sent to Ukraine without training, there are many reports that suggest otherwise.
Russia is growing more dependent on external allies like North Korea while also pushing internal recruitment to its limits. Alternative civilian service is becoming more popular among young men trying to avoid the draft. Still, the government continues to tighten enforcement, sending notices through both the mail and online services like Gosuslugi and mos.ru.
We see this as a counter to Trump’s attempt to push Russia into a ceasefire. As we have mentioned previously, Trump received bad intelligence from his advisor as to how much leverage Trump would have over Russia, and Putin is holding fast. Putin has to merely hold his position to embarrass Trump, and he intends to do so. These troops shore up Putin’s position and demonstrate that he doesn’t need to stop.