Russia Implements Tougher Measures to Enforce Conscription and Prevent Draft Dodging

Russia's lower house of parliament has approved tough new measures to tighten conscription laws, making it almost impossible for Russians to dodge conscription in the future. The law provides for electronic military summonses with bans on draftees leaving the country, making it possible to quietly sweep up thousands more men to fight. The new rules highlight Russia’s need for more military personnel, after a largely ineffective winter offensive that gained little ground despite high casualties, and ahead of an expected new Ukrainian counteroffensive.