How Russia is changing its military recruitment criteria amid Ukraine conflict

Russia’s forces are depleting as its invasion of Ukraine has nearly completed three months. The State Duma, which is Kremlin’s lower legislative house, said it will consider a new bill that would review Moscow’s criteria to join the country’s army.

The new bill will reportedly allow Russian citizens over the age of 40 to sign up for the armed forces. Foreigners who are above the age of 30 will also be eligible to apply if and when the legislation passes, according to Reuters.

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The core objective of the new bill is to optimise the use of skills that older professionals have to offer, the State Duma said in a statement on its website.

“For the use of high-precision weapons, the operation of weapons and military equipment, highly professional specialists are needed. Experience shows that they become such by the age of 40-45″, the State Duma statement said, according to Reuters.

The statement also focused on the Russian army’s need to recruit more non-armed personnel. These include communications and operations specialists, civilian medics and engineers.

Currently, the criteria to recruit individuals into the armed forces allowed applications from those who were aged between 18-40. Foreign nationals aged between 18-30 are currently allowed to join the army.

According to Reuters reports citing western military analysts, Russian forces need to mobilise more active military personnel as its invasion of Ukraine has resulted in a heavy loss of life and equipment.

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Ukraine, on the other hand, has been showered with humanitarian and military aid from western countries and alliances. United States Congress passed an aid package worth $40 billion for Ukraine. 

Germany’s finance minister says the Group of Seven (G7) is set to agree on more than $18 billion in aid for Ukrainian defense efforts, Associated Press reported.