Russia could extend age for military conscription to boost troop numbers in Ukraine, MOD says

Russia could extend the upper age of routine military conscription to boost the number of personnel able to fight in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has said.

In the latest defence intelligence update, the MOD said Andrey Kartapolov,  the head of the Russian State Duma Defence Committee, suggested Russia would extend the upper age of routine military conscription from 27 to 30 in time for the Spring 2023 draft.

The move would see the age range change from 18-27 to 21-30.

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"Kartapolov said the move would be intended to enable the previously announced 30% increase in the size of Russia's forces," the MOD tweeted.

"Last year, President Putin said he supported such a move, and Russian officials are likely sounding out public reactions.

"There is a realistic possibility that Russian leaders hope a change of age criteria for routine conscription could bolster personnel available to fight in Ukraine while [appearing] less alarming to the population than announcing another round of the unpopular 'partial mobilisation' process."

Last year, Moscow saw a partial mobilisation characterised by a number of problematic common themes for Russian reservists in Ukraine.

The MOD said the reservist's deployments are "often characterised by confusion over eligibility for service" and "inadequate training and personal equipment".

It comes after a Russian strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro saw 18 killed and a further 73 people injured.