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Russia begins spring military drafting campaign

This year conscripts from Crimea who used to serve in the region will be sent for the first time to all regions of Russia

MOSCOW, April 1. /TASS/. About 142,000 people will be called up for military service during the spring drafting campaign that began in Russia on Saturday. Its distinctive feature will be a significant reduction in the number of recruits - 10,000 less than usual.

Another distinctive feature is that this year conscripts from Crimea who used to serve in the region will be sent for the first time to all regions of Russia.

In some regions, the dates for the drafting campaign have been shifted due to weather conditions. According to Yevgeny Burdinsky, Deputy Head of the Russian General Staff's Chief Organization and Mobilization Directorate, "the drafting campaign in the Transbaikal, Kamchatka and Khabarovsk Territories, as well as in the Chukotka Autonomous District and Yakutia, will begin a month later - on May 1."

The Russian Defense Ministry reported that direct telephone line on the drafting campaign will begin working in the General Staff’s Chief Organization and Mobilization Directorate on May 16.

In the fall of 2016, 152,000 people were called up for military service. Many conscripts traditionally expressed the desire to serve in the airborne troops, special ops units and marine corps.