Vladimir Putin has signed a decree calling for 134,500 people to be drafted into the army this spring, but the Russian Defense Ministry says the draft has nothing to do with the war in Ukraine.
According to Reuters, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that none of those drafted would be sent to any "hot spots".
Putin's decree says that the annual spring draft into the Russian army, which runs from April 1 to July 15, will affect men aged 18 to 27.
Meanwhile, the decree refers to the demobilization of soldiers, sailors, sergeants and forepersons whose service has ended.
On March 9, the Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged that some of the conscripts were sent to Ukraine after Putin repeatedly denied this, saying that only professional soldiers and officers went to war.
Earlier, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced that in April, Russia would begin to carry out covert mobilization under the program of the country's combat army reserve.
According to the agency, the mobilization will be carried out simultaneously with the planned call for military service. This will become a cover for a large number of mobilized people arriving at the military registration and enlistment offices.
