Approval of the bill to raise the age of military contractors in the Russian army to 70 years is unlikely to enhance Russia's combat readiness.
The Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom reported this on social media.
The summary mentions a draft law under which the age of Russian military servicemen serving on contract is to be raised to 65 years, and officers to 70 years. It is noted that the changes will affect those who were enlisted in the Russian army before June 2023.
According to intelligence experts, this will significantly raise the current maximum age of 51 years for non-commissioned personnel and likely extend the duration of contracts.
According to the World Data website, the pre-war life expectancy of Russian men as of 2021 was 64.2 years. Thus, the increase in age provides these servicemen with a "lifetime contract," analysts note.
"Although this measure will likely alleviate the need for additional mobilisation, increasing the number of military personnel aged over 51 is highly unlikely to increase Russia's combat effectiveness, particulary in kinetic assaults.," the summary states.
