Russia is moving toward eliminating age limits for military service — an apparent effort to expand the pool of potential recruits amid heavy casualties in Ukraine.
Under an amendment introduced by senior lawmakers, Russians older than 40 would be able to sign first-time military service contracts. The law would bring in more service members with in-demand specialties, such as medical workers and engineers, a statement from the lower house of Parliament said on Friday.
“Highly professional specialists are needed” to operate military equipment, the statement said, making no mention of a manpower shortage in the field.
But experts say Russia is suffering from a manpower shortage as it takes losses in Ukraine.
President Vladimir V. Putin has resisted putting his country on wartime footing and ordering a large-scale military draft, apparently fearing domestic backlash. Instead, the Russian military has stepped up its recruitment drive. Under the current law, Russian citizens must be aged 18 to 40 to sign a first-time military service contract.
The draft amendment released on Friday is likely to pass Russia’s rubber-stamp Parliament. The bill’s authors are the top lawmakers on the lower house’s Defense Committee.
Under an amendment introduced by senior lawmakers, Russians older than 40 would be able to sign first-time military service contracts. The law would bring in more service members with in-demand specialties, such as medical workers and engineers, a statement from the lower house of Parliament said on Friday.
“Highly professional specialists are needed” to operate military equipment, the statement said, making no mention of a manpower shortage in the field.
But experts say Russia is suffering from a manpower shortage as it takes losses in Ukraine.
President Vladimir V. Putin has resisted putting his country on wartime footing and ordering a large-scale military draft, apparently fearing domestic backlash. Instead, the Russian military has stepped up its recruitment drive. Under the current law, Russian citizens must be aged 18 to 40 to sign a first-time military service contract.
The draft amendment released on Friday is likely to pass Russia’s rubber-stamp Parliament. The bill’s authors are the top lawmakers on the lower house’s Defense Committee.
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