Russia has upped the maximum age for its soldiers by up to ten years as it readies another 100,000 men for a new battle in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin is building a new force of soldiers to attack the area around Kupyansk in the northern sector of the frontline in Ukraine, military chiefs in Kyiv believe.
Under a recently approved law, reservists with the highest rank can be called back into service up to the age of 70, instead of the former age of 65.
Men who have also completed their compulsory service can re-enter the army up to the age of 55 rather than 45.
It comes after hundreds of thousands of men fled the country in September when Putin ordered mobilisation without warning.
Russian troops move through territory on an armoured vehicle. They could soon be joined by fellow Russians aged up to 70
Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a statement about Wagner’s action on TV in Moscow,
With birth rates at their lowest in 23 years, a recent report revealed that at least 47,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the start of the war in Ukraine.
This is in stark comparison to the reported 6,000 soldiers that died during the decade-long war between Russia and Afghanistan.
Col Serhi Cherevaty, a Ukrainian army spokesman, said that Russia had ordered Storm-Z ex-convict battalions to prepare for battle and was firing more than 500 shells per day around Kupyansk.
He said: ‘The enemy has concentrated a very powerful group. More than 100,000 personnel, more than 900 tanks, more than 550 artillery systems and 370 rocket salvo systems.’
Russian news agencies claimed their forces had advance around a mile towards Kupyansk.
Kyiv’s rhetoric has softened since the start of the counter-offensive against Russia, with commanders now alluding to ‘slow but steady’ progress against the invaders instead of a lightning push towards the Sea of Azov.
In April it was revealed that Putin was planning to clamp down on draft dodgers by creating a new digital conscription system.
Currently, draft notices have to be delivered in person in Russia, which many Russian men have managed to doge by refusing to pick up the enlistment orders and fleeing the country.
Last month, Putin delivered a rallying cry to Russia’s military and security services telling them they halted a slide into civil war when Wagner mercenaries rebelled and marched on Moscow, and held a minute’s silence for those killed in the brief clash.
A Ukrainian soldier gestures as he fires toward Russian position on the frontline in Zaporizhzhia region
Addressing some 2,500 members of Russia’s security forces, National Guard and military units, he said the people and the armed forces had stood together in opposition to rebel mercenaries.
Out-going UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace yesterday put the number of dead or injured Russian casualties at up to a quarter of a million.
He told the Tony Blair Institute’s Future of Britain conference: ‘The casualty rates are horrendous.
‘It would not be wrong to say at least 230,000 to 250,000 dead or injured Russians.’
Mr Wallace compared that with the 15,000 Russian troops killed in Afghanistan between 1979 and 1989, saying: ‘That is the mindset of Putin.’
His comments yesterday came as Ukraine said its forces had shot down Russian drones and cruise missiles targeting the Black Sea port of Odesa in what Moscow admitted was retaliation for an attack that damaged the bridge to the Crimean peninsula.
The Russians first sought to wear down Ukraine’s air defences by firing 25 exploding drones and then targeted Odesa with six Kalibr cruise missiles, Kyiv’s southern command claimed.
It added that all six missiles and the drones were shot down by air defences in the Odesa region and other areas in the south.
Meanwhile in a possible sign that Russia needs to increase its birth rate, Putin’s health minister yesterday told the nation’s women it was their duty to put having children ahead of eductaion or having a career.
Source : DailyMail