Putin orders 160,000 new troops in major conscription drive amid Ukraine war

Russian President, Vladimir Putin has launched one of the largest military conscription drives in recent years, calling up 160,000 men to join the Russian army. This move comes at a critical moment in Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine as Moscow continues its push on the frontlines.

Putin signed a decree authorizing the new twice-yearly conscription cycle, which began on April 1 and runs until July 15. According to Russian state media TASS, this spring’s recruitment is 10,000 more than last year and 15,000 higher than three years ago. The expansion aligns with Putin’s broader military buildup, increasing Russia’s armed forces from 1 million soldiers in 2022 to around 1.5 million today.

The timing of this conscription push is significant. Russia has intensified its ground offensive in eastern Ukraine, particularly around Donetsk, while Ukrainian forces continue to resist. Moscow has also relied on North Korean reinforcements, with recent reports indicating that 3,000 more North Korean soldiers have been deployed to support Russia’s war efforts.

Officially, Russian law prohibits conscripts from being sent to combat zones without proper training. However, multiple reports suggest that many are pressured or misled into signing contracts that lead to their deployment to Ukraine. Others found themselves caught in the conflict last year when Ukraine launched a surprise counterattack in Russia’s Kursk region.

Even as the war escalates, diplomatic efforts are underway. Senior Russian negotiator Kirill Dmitriev is set to visit Washington, D.C., this week for high-level talks with Trump administration official Steve Witkoff. This will be the first time a top Russian diplomat has visited the U.S. since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump has publicly urged Russia to agree to an immediate ceasefire, but Putin rejected the request, adding that any truce would require the lifting of U.S. sanctions. This latest move by Moscow signals that Russia is not ready to back down and is instead ramping up its military strength for the battles ahead.

As negotiations continue, the world watches closely to see whether diplomacy or warfare will ultimately shape the future of the Russia–Ukraine conflict.

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