Russia: Putin orders 160,000 conscripts

03 Apr 2025
Vladimir Putin has ordered the conscription of 160,000 new troops between April and July, targeting citizens aged 18 to 30. The spring draft is part of Russia’s biannual conscription cycle; the previous autumn…

Germany: conscription to be reintroduced?

06 Mar 2025
Germany’s conservative leaders have argued that the country should quickly reintroduce compulsory military service. Friedrich Merz, leader of the new CDU/CSU government, argues that Europe must take greater responsibility for its defence, especially…

Russia: Russians fleeing motherland

09 Jun 2023
When Putin announced ‘military mobilisation’, thousands of Russians rushed to the border. Hundreds of thousands have left since the invasion began. Many were against the war, so not wanting to be drafted they…

Lithuania: preparing for potential Russian invasion

21 Jan 2017
Lithuania has been investing in defence, introducing conscription, and rebuilding a standing army in preparation for the worst. It may have started well before the prospect of a Donald Trump presidency, but has…