Putin’s new draft order of 160,000 men signals a deeper push into Ukraine and a shrinking future for young Russians trying to avoid a war that shows no signs of ending.
At a Glance
- Russia’s largest draft since 2011 calls up 160,000 men aged 18–30 for military service
- Legal changes expand draft eligibility, extend validity of conscription orders, and restrict deferments
- Many conscripts face coercion into contracts that enable combat deployment despite legal protections
- Over 100,000 verified Russian troop deaths raise fears among young draftees
- Analysts see the draft as preparation for either a major offensive or diplomatic leverage in stalled talks
Russia’s Draft Deepens the War
President Vladimir Putin’s spring 2025 conscription order is the largest military draft in more than a decade, drawing 160,000 new soldiers as the war in Ukraine grinds into its fourth year. It’s not just about numbers—the legal rules have changed, tightening the net on draft dodgers.
The conscription age cap has risen from 27 to 30. Medical exemptions are harder to obtain. Draft board decisions now last for an entire year. And those who dodge the call can face restrictions on loans, business operations, and international travel.
“I received a summons to be drafted in the spring of 2024, despite my hypertension,” said one young Russian. “By the autumn the police were searching to forcibly conscript me.”
Watch a report: Russia’s Draft Escalates as War Drags On.
Loopholes and Battlefield Risk
Technically, conscripts are not allowed to serve in combat. But military analysts warn that these rules are often ignored or manipulated. Some conscripts are pressured into signing contracts that convert them into deployable troops.
“Conscripts have been repeatedly targeted by Ukrainian attacks in the border regions,” said Oleg Ignatov, an expert on Russia’s military operations. Deploying conscripts near active fronts raises not just legal questions—but fatal ones.
The draft’s timing is also suspect. Ukrainian officials accuse Moscow of stalling U.S.-brokered ceasefire talks while building manpower for a possible summer offensive in Kharkiv, Sumy, or Zaporizhzhia.
Grim Numbers, Growing Alarm
War’s human toll is clear. Independent Russian media outlets have verified over 100,000 Russian military deaths since the invasion began. Ukraine claims the real number of Russian casualties exceeds one million—including dead, wounded, and missing.
By contrast, Ukraine has lost over 46,000 soldiers, with nearly 400,000 more injured. Yet Ukrainian forces are seeing improved survival rates, thanks to U.S. and European training programs, according to Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
Putin, for his part, insists victory is near—but the scale of this draft suggests he’s bracing for a much longer war.
What’s the Endgame?
With ceasefire talks frozen and troop numbers swelling, Putin’s draft could serve two functions: resupply Russia’s frontline manpower or pressure Kyiv and Washington into a settlement by sheer threat of escalation. Either way, it signals no peace in sight.
And for Russia’s young men, it means a shrinking list of ways to say no. In Putin’s war of attrition, the biggest casualty may be Russia’s next generation.
