Putin forces Ukrainians under occupation into military service

Kremlin ruler Vladimir Putin on March 31 signed a decree for the spring conscription of Russian citizens into military service, with the campaign running from April 1 to July 15, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

The document indicates that 160,000 people will be drafted, specifically those aged 18 to 30.

“In 2024, 150,000 people were called up during the spring draft, 147,000 in 2023, and 134,500 in 2022,” the Russian state news agency TASS reported.

This year’s draft target is the largest in recent years, according to the National Resistance Center (NRC). Lists of recruits are being compiled both in Russia and in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.

“The primary targets are students from fake universities and colleges. After being drafted, they are quickly signed to contracts with the Russian military and sent to the frontlines,” the NRC writes.

The recent Kremlin move seeks to compensate for autumn’s low troop call-up rate, which the NRC describes as a war crime.

The forced conscription of civilians in temporarily occupied territories is a gross violation of international humanitarian law, they add.

“No Ukrainian should be forced to become a weapon in the hands of the occupiers,” the message reads.