MOSCOW, March 30. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on spring draft for military service in Russia. The document has been published.

"Carry out conscription of citizens of the Russian Federation aged between 18 and 27, not in reserve, and eligible to conscription, between April 1 and July 15, 2023, in quantity of 147,000 people," the decree says.

The decree also dismisses soldiers, sailors, sergeants and petty officers, whose conscription time span has expired.

A bill on gradual increase of conscription age is currently in discussion. Earlier, Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee Andrey Kartapolov said that spring and autumn drafts this year will proceed under previous regulations. Later, according to the initiative, currently being reviewed by the State Duma, the conscription age will stand between 19 and 30 years in 2024, between 20 and 30 years in 2024, and between 21 and 30 years in 2026. Citizens will also be able to apply for conscription service at age of 18, if they so desire, despite the increase of the conscription age.

During fall of 2022, a total of 120,000 people were drafted to military service, with 134,500 people drafted last spring. On average, about 130,000 people were conscripted every time in the few last years.