Russian leader Vladimir Putin has signed a decree for the 2025 autumn military draft, running from October 1 to December 31, according to a decree posted on the official Russian government legal portal on September 29.
The call-up will target 135,000 Russian citizens aged 18 to 30.
Vice Admiral Vladimir Tsimlyansky, deputy head of Russia’s Main Organizational and Mobilization Directorate, said draftees will serve only within Russia and will not participate in Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Previously, it was reported Russia is considering a major overhaul of its conscription system that would allow for continuous draft procedures year-round, as the country grapples with unprecedented military losses in Ukraine, according to the proposed legislative changes, introduced by the head of the Russian Parliament’s Defense Committee.
Russian soldiers come from poor regions: Siberia, the Far East, Kalmykia, etc. To many poor recruits the pay far exceeds anything they could get in civilian life. It’s the same strategy as the US military: go to impoverished states and get those desperate poor schmucks to fight and die for you.
Russia has expanded the draft and seemingly can’t count on volunteers as much as before. So the situation may change in the future.