Kremlin: Putin ‘conceptually’ backs conscription age increase to 30

Russian President Vladimir Putin has supported the maximum conscription age increase from 27 to 30, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted as quoted by TASS.

“Indeed, the idea conceptually was backed by the head of state, but you should refer to the Defence Ministry information as a primary source for the details and implementation,” Peskov said.

Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu in December revealed the plan to increase the minimum conscription age from 18 to 21 and the maximum age from 27 to 30 in a gradual manner.

He defended the initiative by saying that Russia should be defended from NATO who seeks to boost its “military potential” near Russian borders.

In January, head of the State Duma (lower house of parliament) defence committee Andrey Kartapolovsaid that Russia can start conscripting people up to 30 years of age in the coming spring.