Vladimir Putin has just conscripted a staggering 160,000 new troops into the Russian army, the largest military draft in more than a decade. And if that wasn’t enough to raise eyebrows, it comes as Moscow ramps up its drone strikes on Ukraine while US officials warn that hopes for peace are fading fast.
The massive call-up, Russia’s largest since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, is a clear sign that the Kremlin has no intention of backing down anytime soon. Washington insiders, frustrated by the deadlock in ceasefire negotiations, have admitted that the chances of Moscow and Kyiv reaching a peace deal in the coming months have “plummeted.”
Donald Trump’s administration has not held back either. Officials claim Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is “trying to back out” of a minerals deal, suggesting it’s a form of payback for US military aid. Meanwhile, Putin is pressing ahead with his military expansion, drafting 160,000 Russian men aged 18 to 30. This marks the biggest wave of conscripts since 2011, with Moscow also expanding recruitment beyond its borders, including a reported influx of North Korean soldiers.
The Kremlin’s military build-up doesn’t stop there. Last year, Putin signed a decree to increase the size of Russia’s armed forces to 2.39 million personnel, with active servicemen rising to 1.5 million, a boost of 180,000 over the next three years. The justification? The “ongoing expansion of NATO,” particularly with Sweden and Finland joining the alliance.
Vice Admiral Vladimir Tsimlyansky, Deputy Chief of Russia’s Directorate of the General Staff, insists that the new recruits won’t be sent to fight in Ukraine. But there’s reason to be sceptical. The BBC previously reported that 13% of all Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine were those mobilised under past drafts.
This year’s draft runs from April to July, and it’s already triggering alarm bells in Washington. Senior White House and State Department officials acknowledge that Putin is actively resisting peace efforts, leading to fresh discussions about whether economic or diplomatic sanctions could force Russia to the negotiating table.
One thing is clear: with this latest military surge, Putin is showing no signs of slowing down, and neither is the war.
