The State Duma promised not to send conscripts to Donbass

The State Duma promised not to send conscripts who were drafted into the army in the spring to the occupied territories of Ukraine. This was stated by the head of the Defense Committee Andrei Kartapolov, reports RBC.

In the occupied regions themselves – Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhia – conscription will not take place in the spring, added the MP.

In Russia, spring conscription is held annually from April 1 to July 15. According to Kartapolov, this time the increase in the military age will not apply to conscripts. The summons will take place “in accordance with the applicable norms and principles, which are determined by applicable law and no one has to worry about it.”

On March 13, the State Duma received a bill to raise the age limit for military conscription to 30 years. It was Kartapolov who became its author along with Andrei Krasov and Yuri Shvytkin. The document will be considered only after April 17, Kartapolov assured.

The act should enter into force only on January 1, 2024, as proposed by the deputies. The increase in the military age will take place in three stages:

• from 19 to 30 years old (from 1 January to 31 December 2024);
• from 20 to 30 years (from 1 January to 31 December 2025);
• from 21 to 30 years old (from January 1, 2026).

At the same time, citizens aged 18 to 21 will be able to do military service at will.

Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu called for an increase in the military age last December. Speaking at the military ministry’s college, the minister proposed raising the minimum age for military conscription from 18 to 21, and the maximum age from 27 to 30. In his opinion, it is therefore possible to protect Russia against NATO states seeking to build “military potential” near Russian borders. The initiative was supported by President Vladimir Putin. later in The Kremlin noted that the details should be clarified with the Defense Ministry.