Russian conscripts recruited during the spring draft will likely be forced to sign contracts to participate in the war against Ukraine.
This was reported by the UK Ministry of Defence, citing intelligence data.
According to British intelligence, conscripts set to be mobilized in this year's spring draft will likely be pressured into signing contracts for deployment to the war in Ukraine.
This conclusion stems from an analysis of a decree signed by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin at the end of March, ordering the conscription of 160,000 Russians for compulsory military service.
Traditionally, Russia does not send conscripts into combat zones. However, last year, during battles in the Kursk region, conscripts were already involved in combat operations. This led to significant discontent among parents, as their sons were deployed to the frontlines after just four months of training.
Intelligence sources noted that Russia conducts conscription twice a year, in spring and autumn. The previous draft cycle began on October 1, 2024.
This draft is the largest since 2011. It aligns with the Russian Ministry of Defense’s announcement in December 2022 to increase the total number of armed forces personnel to 1.5 million by the end of 2026.
"Russia has likely suffered over 900,000 casualties in its war against Ukraine. To replenish these battlefield losses and sustain its military efforts, conscripts will almost certainly be pressured into signing permanent military contracts, enabling their deployment to Ukraine," the report states.
