Russian President Vladimir Putin has authorised the conscription of 160,000 additional troops into the military, marking the largest such call-up in over a decade, Kyiv Independent reports on Monday.

The decree, reported by the Interfax news agency and published on the Russian government’s legal announcements website, applies to citizens between the ages of 18 and 30. This marks the first conscription of this scale since 2011.

The official statement also said that “soldiers, sailors, sergeants and non-commissioned officers whose conscripted military service has expired” will be discharged from military service.

Russia traditionally holds conscription periods twice a year, in the spring and fall.

The most recent autumn conscription, which took place from October to December 2024, saw 133,000 recruits sent to serve for a year.

In a move that has expanded the scope of military service, Putin signed a law in January raising the maximum age for conscription from 27 to 30.

Russian media reported that, as of December 2024, staffing in Russia’s armed forces has increased to nearly 2.4 million, comprising 1.5 million military personnel.

This announcement came amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, as Russia continues to face international condemnation for its actions in the region.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has strongly opposed the potential deployment of Western peacekeepers to Ukraine, with spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warning that such a move could escalate tensions into a direct confrontation between Russia and NATO.

Zakharova further accused the United Kingdom and France of plotting military intervention under the guise of peacekeeping.

These remarks coincide with a summit in Paris hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, where leaders from nearly 30 countries, along with NATO and EU officials, gathered to discuss strengthening support for Ukraine.

Key discussions at the summit focused on the potential deployment of European troops to Ukraine as part of a broader peace agreement, known as the “Coalition of the Willing.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, addressing the leaders, called for European unity in defending against Russian aggression, emphasizing the need for long-term security guarantees to ensure Ukraine’s future defense.