In an indication that Russia may be aiming to recruit more troops for its military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s parliament on Wednesday passed a law that removes an upper military age limit that had previously been in place.

People who join the military voluntarily are the main focus of the new law, not young men who are required to perform national service.

According to the Russian laws that are currently in place, the first contract for military service can only be signed by Russian citizens between the ages of 18 and 40, and by foreign nationals between the ages of 18 and 30.

This comes at a time when Russia has reported that its military operation in Ukraine, which began on February 24, has resulted in the deaths of over a thousand of its troops with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stating on Tuesday that Russia “will continue the special military operation until all of the objectives have been fulfilled.”

“It is important that we help bolster our armed forces in order to support the Ministry of Defense. Putin, who serves as our supreme commander-in-chief, is exerting every effort to ensure victory for the army and improve its efficiency ” the speaker of the Russian Duma Vyacheslav Volodin said.

Read Also: