Russia Extends Age Limit For Draft , Amid Ongoing War in Ukraine.<br />On July 25, the lower house of Russia's parliament <br />approved a bill to extend the upper age limit <br />for the country's compulsory military draft. .<br />ABC reports that the decision to raise the age <br />from 27 to 30 comes amid an effort to bolster <br />the military amid Russia's war with Ukraine.<br />In order to become a law, the bill still needs <br />to be approved by the upper house of the <br />parliament and President Vladimir Putin. .<br />In order to become a law, the bill still needs <br />to be approved by the upper house of the <br />parliament and President Vladimir Putin. .<br />The bill is an effort to expand the ranks <br />of the Russian army as fighting in Ukraine <br />has now been ongoing for 18 months.<br />While the bill initially would have also raised the lower <br />age for the draft from 18 to 21, lawmakers endorsed <br />the Defense Minister's request to set the draft at 18-30.<br />ABC reports that the new <br />draft requirements would <br />be put into place in 2024. .<br />According to Russian authorities, draftees are not <br />deployed to Ukraine, as forces on the front <br />are comprised of volunteers and reservists. .<br />However, ABC reports that Russian media outlets <br />have shown the military attempting to coerce <br />draftees into joining the war effort as volunteers.<br />The push to bolster the military comes <br />as Ukraine continues a counteroffensive <br />along parts of the over 625-mile-long front. .<br />Russia's current draft, in place for all Russian men <br />between the ages of 18 and 27, grants deferments to <br />students, people with chronic illnesses and others.
