**Russia Orders Largest Military Draft in 14 Years**
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the largest military draft in 14 years. On March 31, he signed a decree calling up 160,000 men for compulsory military service.
The draft will take place from April to June and applies to men aged 18 to 30. This is the biggest conscription campaign since 2011, when 203,000 people were drafted. Every year, Russia holds two drafts: one in spring and one in fall.
In previous years, the number of recruits was lower. In 2024, the spring draft required 150,000 people, and the fall draft needed 133,000. Putin decides on the number of recruits each time.
The Russian government has made it easier to draft young men who previously avoided service. This is a change from last year’s unpopular mobilization, which led over 261,000 Russians to flee the country.
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