President Vladimir Putin has announced Russia’s largest military call-up in years, drafting 160,000 men aged 18-30 for a year’s military service. This move is part of Russia’s plan to expand its military to almost 2.39 million, with 1.5 million active servicemen.
The call-up comes despite US attempts to negotiate a ceasefire in the ongoing war with Ukraine. Russia has denied plans to send the new conscripts to fight in Ukraine, but reports suggest otherwise.
The draft has been met with resistance, with many Russians attempting to avoid military service. Human rights lawyer Timofey Vaskin warns that the call-up has become a “lottery” for young Russians.
The move is likely a response to Russia’s significant losses in Ukraine, with over 100,000 soldiers killed. Russia has also recruited thousands of soldiers from North Korea to bolster its forces.
Finland has announced plans to increase defense spending to 3% of its GDP, citing the military threat from Russia. The country has also withdrawn from the Ottawa convention banning anti-personnel mines.
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