Russia is recruiting 134,500 people, but says they will not be sent to Ukraine

LAST UPDATE: 13.28

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday signed a decree ordering the recruitment of 134,500 Russians into the army as part of Russia’s annual spring mobilization, but the country’s Defense Ministry said the mobilization had nothing to do with the war in Ukraine.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the mobilization this spring would be shorter than a year ago.

“It is decided to call up 134,500 Russian citizens between the ages of 18 and 27 who are not in the reserve and are called up for military service in accordance with Federal Law No. 53-FZ of 28 March 1998 on military service and military service. “From April 1 to April 15, 2022”, the relevant decree, according to the Russian news agency Ria Novosti.

The decree also mandates the “dismissal of soldiers, sailors, sergeants and non-commissioned officers whose service has expired.”

This decree enters into force on the date of its official publication, March 31, it is emphasized in the publication.

The decree was signed five weeks after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has met with strong Ukrainian resistance. Shoigu said none of those summoned would be sent to “hot spots”.

“Most military personnel will undergo vocational training at training centers for three to five months. Let me stress that the recruits will not be sent to any hot spot,” Soigu said.

The issue of the participation of conscripts in the war is extremely sensitive. On March 9, the Russian Defense Ministry acknowledged that some had been sent to Ukraine, after Putin had denied it on several occasions, claiming that only professional soldiers and officers had been sent.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peshkov said at the time that Putin had ordered military prosecutors to investigate and punish officials responsible for disobeying instructions to exclude conscripts from the conflict in Ukraine.

Shoigu said the callers would be sent to the bases assigned to them in late May.

However, Mikhail Benyash, a lawyer representing many members of the Russian National Guard who refused the order to go to Ukraine, said that under Russian law conscripts can be sent to fight after several months of training.

However, Mikhail Benyash, a lawyer representing several members of the Russian National Guard who refused the order to go to Ukraine, told Reuters that under Russian law, conscripts could be sent to fight after several months of training.