Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the conscription of 135,000 men by year’s end, the biggest autumn mobilization since 2016.
Conscription Order Signed
On Monday, September 29, Putin signed a decree mandating the draft of 135,000 men into the Russian military by December 31. This marks the largest autumn conscription drive since 2016, when 152,000 men were called up. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, an average of 127,000 conscripts have been mobilized annually.
Official Stance vs. Reality on Frontline Deployments
Officially, conscripts are to serve at military bases within Russia. The Kremlin and the Russian Ministry of Defense deny sending draftees to the front, insisting the mobilization is unrelated to the Ukraine war. However, Ukrainian forces have repeatedly reported capturing Russian conscripts. Putin admitted that some conscripts were mistakenly sent to Ukraine at the start of the 2022 invasion, calling it an error.
Spring Mobilization Precedent
In spring 2024, Russia drafted 160,000 conscripts. The country conducts two annual conscription drives—spring and autumn—targeting men aged 18-30 for one year of mandatory military service.
