Putin summons his father’s army: Russia mobilizes 70-year-olds as country prepares another 100,000 men for war in Ukraine
Russia has raised the age limit for its soldiers by up to 10 years as it prepares another 100,000 for war in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin is building a new force to attack the northern sector of the frontline in Ukraine.
Under a recently passed law, top-ranking reservists can be reinstated until age 70, instead of the earlier age of 65.
Men who have also completed their national service can rejoin the army until the age of 55 instead of 45 years.
It comes after hundreds of thousands of men fled the country in September when Putin ordered mobilization without warning.
Russian President Vladimir Putin makes a statement about Wagner’s action on TV in Moscow,
A Ukrainian soldier gestures toward the Russian frontline position in the Zaporizhia region
With the lowest birth rate in 23 years, a recent disturbing report revealed that at least 47,000 Russian soldiers have died since the start of the war in Ukraine.
This is in stark contrast to the reported 6,000 soldiers who died during the decade-long war between Russia and Afghanistan.
Colonel Serhi Cherevaty, a spokesman for the Ukrainian army, said Russia had ordered the Storm-Z ex-captive battalions to prepare for battle and was firing more than 500 shells a 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 missile salvo systems.”
In April, it was revealed that Putin was planning to crack down on conscription evaders by creating a new digital conscription system.
Currently, draft notices must be delivered in person to Russia, which many Russian men have managed to evade by refusing to pick up the recruitment notices and fleeing the country.
Last month, Putin issued a call to the Russian military and security services to tell them they were stopping a slide into civil war as Wagner mercenaries revolted and marched on Moscow, and he held a minute’s silence for the victims of the brief clash .
Addressing some 2,500 members of Russia’s security forces, National Guard and military units, he said the people and armed forces had united against rebel mercenaries.