Russia Launches Largest Military Draft in 14 Years During Stalled Ceasefire Talks

President Vladimir Putin has ordered 160,000 men to be conscripted, with Ukraine accusing Russia of using the draft to prepare for new offensives.

The Russian spring conscription campaign, running from April 1 to July 15, will draft 160,000 men aged 18 to 30, the largest since 2011.
The Kremlin claims the conscription is unrelated to the Ukraine war and pledges that conscripts will not be sent to the front lines, though skepticism persists due to past practices.
Ukraine alleges that the draft is part of Russia’s preparations for new military offensives in the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Independent reports confirm over 100,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the invasion began, while Ukraine has reported over 46,000 troop deaths as of February 2025.
U.S.-mediated ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine remain stalled, with both sides accusing each other of using negotiations as a strategic delay tactic.