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A total of 160,000 new conscripts were ordered in Russia during the fall draft of 2025. Over the past decade, the highest annual conscription was recorded in 2014, at 308,100 thousand. In September 2022, the Russian government announcement a military draft of reservists during the invasion of Ukraine. 

Military conscription in Russia

There is a mandatory military service for men in Russia. Russian men aged 18 to 30 years are conscripted for one year of active military service, usually twice a year. The spring draft is from April 1 to July 15, and the fall draft is from October 1 to December 31 of each year. Conscription of university students can be postponed until they complete their studies. Furthermore, some people might not get conscripted due to health conditions. Russian conscripts also have an option to apply for alternative civilian service. Other countries that have military conscription include Brazil, Eritrea, South Korea, and Vietnam, among others.

How big is the Russian Army?

The Russian Army consists of around 2.4 million soldiers, of which 1.5 million are servicemen. Other staff included paramilitary and reserve military personnel. In 2025, Russia had the fifth-largest number of active military personnel worldwide. The number of active-duty military personnel, including paramilitary staff, significantly increased in 2015.