Russia steps up efforts to boost army size
Russia's annual spring draft got underway on 1 April when President Vladimir Putin signed a decree ordering that 147,000 men be enrolled for the obligatory year of military service. That's about 8% more on average than in previous years. In spring 2022, for example, the number was 134,500.
This year's spring draft is accompanied by a marketing campaign in the hopes of winning over more young men and convincing them to serve in the military on a contract basis. According to news agency Bloomberg, the Russian army aims to recruit some 400,000 new contract soldiers in order to send them to fight in the war against Ukraine.
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