Vladimir Putin is reportedly accelerating conscription efforts in Russia, sparking fresh fears of a global conflict. Russian law holds that men aged between 18 and 30 are required to sign up at enlistment offices so they can be called up to fight when required.
Putin has now further tightened legislation preventing men from dodging the draft, including by forcing them to show conscription papers before being registered as business owners, buying or selling property or taking out a mortgage, according to The Times.
Mass mobilisation fears
The move could be followed by the mass mobilisation of troops, something Putin has managed so far to avoid, reports suggest. It comes amid growing animosity between Moscow and NATO, including warnings that Russia would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons to defend the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad if the alliance tries to cut it off.
Several Russian embassies in Europe issued statements this week saying Moscow has "information that NATO is preparing [an] air and naval blockade of Kaliningrad and [the] Kaliningrad region". They accused European leaders of "playing a dangerous game" by saying Russia might attack another country or ramp up a campaign of destabilising attacks with drones and sabotage.
Putin's warning on Kaliningrad
Putin said during a public appearance on Thursday: "If it comes to a direct attack on the Russian Federation - in this case we mean Kaliningrad, or maybe some other territories - of course, inevitably and immediately the question of Russian Federation using all weapons at the disposal of our country will appear on the agenda."
Kaliningrad, which sits between NATO members Poland and Lithuania, is home to Russia's main Baltic naval base and other military assets. Western military officers have said the key installations in Kaliningrad would make it a likely first target should Russia attack any NATO ally.
Sabotage and Ukraine frontline
Moscow has been accused by European countries of running a campaign of sabotage and disruption in recent months, including an attempted drone attack on a German airport. Reports of increased conscription also come as Russia continues to intensify its attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Almost five years after Russia invaded its neighbour, there are no concrete signs that a peace settlement is possible and fighting along the 780-mile frontline through northern, eastern and southern Ukraine has been virtually deadlocked for months.
