All articles tagged with #military draft
Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews protested in Jerusalem against plans to draft them into the Israeli military, highlighting deep societal divisions and threatening Prime Minister Netanyahu's fragile coalition, amid ongoing debates over permanent draft exemptions for the community.
Germany is considering reinstating a military draft to serve as a deterrent against Russia amid rising European security concerns, with plans to modernize recruitment and debate over compulsory service, aiming for potential implementation by early 2026.
The Israeli military will begin drafting ultra-Orthodox men following a Supreme Court order, potentially destabilizing Prime Minister Netanyahu's government and sparking large protests. The move ends long-standing exemptions for religious men, causing tension with ultra-Orthodox leaders and risking the collapse of the ruling coalition.
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.
Ukraine's parliament has passed a measure to streamline conscription, aiming to bolster its armed forces amid a shortage of soldiers, ammunition, and weapons as Russia continues its invasion. The move comes as Western aid to Ukraine has slowed, with a $60 billion U.S. package stalled in Congress for six months.
Ukraine's parliament has passed a bill to overhaul military drafts in an effort to boost troop numbers, as a general told lawmakers that Russian forces outnumber Ukrainian soldiers up to 10 times in the east. The bill, which removes draconian draft-dodging penalties, aims to provide the military with better data on potential conscripts and keep wartime military service open-ended. The legislation, which still requires President Zelenskyy's signature, comes amid concerns about manpower and artillery shell shortages as better-equipped Russian forces make advances in eastern Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has signed a law lowering the draft age from 27 to 25 in an effort to bolster the country's armed forces amid the ongoing war with Russia. The law, known as 9281, was one of three measures signed, with another bill, 10449, also under consideration. The move comes as Ukraine faces challenges in recruiting new troops, with concerns over the impact on the economy and reports of evasion tactics. Meanwhile, Russia claims a surge in enlistments following a recent terror attack in Moscow, while Zelensky has highlighted the ongoing devastation caused by Russian assaults.
Ukraine has lowered the military draft age from 27 to 25 in an effort to replenish its depleted ranks after more than two years of war following Russia’s full-scale invasion. The new mobilization law came into force a day after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed it, aiming to address infantry and ammunition shortages. The move has sparked concerns about its impact on the economy, as Ukraine braces for an expected summer offensive by the Kremlin’s forces. Meanwhile, Russian attacks continue to wreak havoc across the country, prompting appeals for more air defense systems from Ukraine's Western partners.
Ukrainian President Zelensky signed a law lowering the draft age to 25 in an effort to bolster the country's military ranks amid Russia's invasion. The move comes as Ukraine faces a critical need for reinforcements, with some soldiers fighting for over two years without adequate breaks. The law also establishes an electronic database of military-age men, and discussions continue regarding the exact rules and privacy concerns. Meanwhile, Zelensky has urged US congressional leaders to pass a $60 billion package for Ukraine's war effort, with a focus on enhancing air defense capabilities.
Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz threatens to quit the national emergency government if proposed legislation continues to exempt ultra-Orthodox Jews from mandatory military service, calling it a "serious moral failure." The bill, which has not been made public, perpetuates disputed military exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jews and has sparked opposition within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's own right-wing Likud party. The exemptions have long been a source of friction, with critics arguing that they keep many ultra-Orthodox Jews out of the workforce and are unfair to other Israelis.
Denmark plans to extend military conscription to women for the first time and increase the service term to 11 months for both genders in response to a more serious security policy situation in Europe. The move aims to increase the number of conscripts to 5,000 and create a more versatile and complete defense. The new system will require a change in the law, set to take effect in 2026, and will involve five months of basic training followed by six months of operational service and supplementary training.
Yitzhak Yosef, the Sephardic chief rabbi of Israel, stated that citizens would leave the country if forced to be drafted, sparking debates over military service exemptions for the Haredim. The Israeli Supreme Court struck down the law granting blanket exemptions for Haredi yeshiva students in 2017, leading to temporary measures to avoid drafting ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students. Lawmakers and opposition leaders have criticized Yosef's remarks, with some emphasizing the need for ultra-orthodox youth to enlist for Israel's security, while the Haredim community remains resistant to the draft.
Ukraine's parliament passed the first reading of a bill aimed at tightening army mobilization rules, including requiring potential military personnel abroad to have up-to-date military registration and proposing asset freezes for draft evasion. The bill also suggests online call-ups and lowering the age for combat duty mobilization to 25. President Zelenskiy previously proposed mobilizing 450,000-500,000 more people into the army, and the Defence Ministry emphasized the necessity of these measures in the face of long-term war with Russia.
Russia is drafting hundreds of thousands of troops for major assaults in Ukraine, but it may not have enough weapons to equip them all, according to military experts. The Institute for the Study of War reported that Russia's military reserves are not ready for combat and its production rates cannot support a large number of conscripts or reservists. This shortage of weapons could significantly impact the outcome of the war, as Russia has been recruiting poorly-trained soldiers for intense assaults on the front lines in Ukraine, resulting in major losses and failed advances.