The State Duma adopted in the first reading a draft law on raising the age of conscription for military service by three years. The maximum period from 2024 will be raised immediately to 30 years, and the lower bar of 18 years will be raised in stages.
According to the amendments, from January 1 to December 31, 2024, men aged 19 to 30 will be called up as conscripts, next year the minimum age for conscription will increase by one year — up to 20 years, from January 1 2026, men aged 21 to 30 will be subject to military service.
Similar rules will apply to alternative service.
In addition, after January 1, 2024, adult males who are younger than the military age stipulated by law will be able to voluntarily sign up for military service.
As stated in the text of the bill, if it is adopted, it will enter into force on January 1, 2024.
The proposal to raise the age of conscription was made by Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in December last year. The minister also called for allowing conscripts to conclude a contract from the first day of service, and not after three months. Now men from 18 to 27 years old are called up for military service.