All articles tagged with #conscription
After Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion, Ukraine imposed martial law banning men 18–60 from leaving, forcing families to make painful, rapid decisions about who stays or departs; the episode follows a DJ named Alex living with fear of the frontline, while Guardian reporters discuss enduring hopes for peace.
Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox men chased two female IDF squad commanders during an official home visit in Bnei Brak, leading to riot police intervention with stun grenades, 23 arrests, and injuries to three officers. Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned the chaos, while footage showed local support for the Haredim. The incident underscores long-running disputes over ultra-Orthodox military service amid Israel’s Gaza war and a 2024 Supreme Court ruling that opened conscription for the community, fueling political tensions within the coalition.
As Ukrainian casualties mount, Moscow expands conscription and authorizes year‑round drafts while leaning on reservists to guard infrastructure; Russia also relies on contract soldiers and foreign recruits to replenish forces, aiming to avoid nationwide mobilization amid budget limits and political risk, even as casualty patterns increasingly impact provinces outside Moscow.
Queen Maxima of the Netherlands has joined the Royal Netherlands Army as a reservist, training at Breda and slated for promotion to lieutenant colonel. She says the move—driven by concerns that safety can no longer be taken for granted—will see her deployed where needed, and follows a broader trend of royals serving in the military amid Europe’s security jitters and renewed interest in conscription.
Germany's military is actively recruiting on a large scale to expand its forces, using public outreach and incentives to attract volunteers, amid a shift in public perception and increased defense spending, as the country prepares for a new era of national security.
Germany's cabinet has approved a bill to reintroduce voluntary military service, with the potential to implement conscription if needed, as part of efforts to strengthen national defense amid tensions with Russia and following Ukraine invasion, aiming to increase troop numbers and modernize the military.
Germany is moving towards reinstating compulsory military service to bolster its armed forces amid concerns over Russia's threat and the need for European security guarantees, with a bill pending parliamentary approval that would require 18-year-old men to fill out a fitness questionnaire and potentially reintroduce conscription, sparking domestic debate and opposition.
Germany has proposed a major overhaul of its military recruitment system, aiming to increase volunteer enlistment through salary raises and expanded training, while also considering reintroducing conscription if volunteer numbers remain insufficient, sparking debate over the effectiveness and necessity of such measures.
The ultra-Orthodox party United Torah Judaism has left Israel's government coalition over disagreements on a bill to exempt yeshiva students from military service, reducing Netanyahu's majority in the Knesset and escalating tensions over military conscription exemptions for religious students.
The death of a 45-year-old ethnic Hungarian in Ukraine, allegedly due to mistreatment during forced conscription, has sparked a diplomatic dispute between Hungary and Ukraine, highlighting concerns over human rights violations amid Ukraine's military mobilization efforts.
Denmark has changed its laws to require women to participate in a lottery system for 11 months of military service at age 18, aligning with NATO's increased defense efforts and following the example of Sweden and Norway, with the aim to boost military capacity amid heightened security concerns.
The US has urged Ukraine to lower its conscription age from 25 to 18 to address a manpower shortage amid escalating Russian advances. This request comes as the Biden administration rushes to provide $7 billion in security aid to Ukraine before Donald Trump takes office, fearing he might push for a resolution favoring Russia. Despite US pressure, Ukraine remains hesitant to conscript younger individuals due to demographic concerns. Meanwhile, Russia has bolstered its forces with North Korean soldiers, intensifying the conflict in Ukraine's southeastern regions.
Israel's military announced it will start issuing draft notices to ultra-Orthodox men next week, marking a significant policy shift in the country's conscription practices.
The Russian government is developing an 'information exchange system' between the Ministry of Defence and the Federal Security Service (FSB) to prevent potential military draftees from leaving the country. This system, expected to be operational before the Autumn 2024 draft, aims to avoid a repeat of the mass exodus seen during the 2022 partial mobilization, which significantly impacted the labor market.
European countries like Germany and the Netherlands are considering adopting Sweden's conscription model to address troop shortages. Sweden screens 110,000 teenagers annually, drafting the best-suited third for military service. This system, reintroduced in 2017, has doubled the number of conscripts and is seen as essential for military growth, especially in light of rising threats from the east.