MOSCOW. Jan 26 (Interfax) - State Duma Defense Committee Chairman Andrei Kartapolov has told Interfax he does not think it necessary to change the conscription age in Russia by the spring draft, while the respective initiative of the Russian Defense Ministry has yet to be formalized.
"It is totally unnecessary to amend legislation before the spring draft," Kartapolov said on Thursday in response to a question whether conscripts would be drafted for military service under the new rules this spring.
"There are no new rules," he added.
"We are not working on these amendments, The Defense Ministry has put forward the initiative but has not made any further steps," Kartapolov said.
"We do not think that's necessary for now, while, in the future, yes, it can be considered," he said.
For now, the conscription age for Russian males ranges from 18 to 27 years.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said in late December 2022 that the age brackets for the Armed Forces draft will be changed in Russia.
"During recruitment into the Armed Forces, the drafting age of citizens will be gradually increased from 18 to 21 years and the age limit to 30 years," the minister said at a meeting of the Defense Ministry board. It is also planned "to make it possible for citizens to enter military service under a contract from their first day in the army, if they wish to do so," Shoigu said at the time.