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☆ German chancellor appeared to suggest that British and French soldiers have helped Ukraine fire 'deep-strike' missiles at Russian targets, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been criticized for a "flagrant abuse of intelligence" after he appeared to suggest British and French soldiers had been helping Ukraine fire missiles they had supplied. "German soldiers must at no point and in no place be linked to targets this system reaches," he added. A German government spokesperson told Business Insider they had no comment on the reports. Thierry Wurtz/MBDAIn May 2023, the UK became the first country to begin sending Ukraine long-range missiles with the delivery of long-range Storm Shadow missiles. According to the Atlantic Council think tank, they enable Ukraine to target ammunition depots and command posts deep inside Russian territory.

Persons: —, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Ben Wallace, Tobias Ellwood, Thierry Wurtz Organizations: Service, Business, Storm, Associated Press, Telegraph, Former UK, of Commons Defence, British Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces of, Rafale, Atlantic Council, Fleet, BBC Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Britain, France, Europe, Russia, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Sevastopol

☆ The UK's flagship aircraft carrier suffers new misfortune and won't lead major NATO exercise
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The UK Royal Navy's fleet flagship had to withdraw from a major NATO exercise at the last minute. HMS Queen Elizabeth had issues with its starboard propeller shaft. In 2019, HMS Queen Elizabeth was left without propulsion for days and flooded. The ship had to anchor off Britannia Royal Naval College for 24 hours to undergo repairs, per The News. The House of Commons Defence Committee called the UK military "consistently overstretched" and under "unrelenting pressure," the Independent reports.

Persons: Queen Elizabeth, HMS Queen Elizabeth, —, Elizabeth, HMS, Wales, HMS Prince, Kalnins, Sir Richard Barrons Organizations: Royal, Service, NATO, Royal Navy, Business, Royal Navy's, Britannia Royal Naval College, Warfare Development Command, UK Defense, British, REUTERS, Bangor, Financial Times, Navy, Recruits, of Commons Defence Locations: NATO, Portsmouth, Europe, Scandinavia, Northern Europe, Westminster, Riga, Latvia, Bahrain, Bangor

☆ Red Sea Disruption Threatens Italy's Economic Stability - Minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

ROME (Reuters) - Ongoing disruption in the Red Sea threatens to destabilise Italy's economy and marginalise ports in southern Europe, Italy's defence minister said on Thursday. "From a geopolitical perspective, the continuing of this situation could lead to the marginalisation of ports on the Mediterranean Sea," Defence Minister Guido Crosetto told lawmakers from parliament's defence committees. "Not only does it threaten the security of navigation but also (Italy's) economic stability". The minister said that commercial traffic through the Suez Canal -- which he estimated to represent some 40% of Italy's total maritime trade -- had dropped by 38% by the last week of 2023. Navigation times increased by 10-12 days and costs increased almost five-fold, he added.

Persons: Guido Crosetto, Crosetto, Giulia Segreti, Keith Weir Organizations: " Locations: ROME, Europe, Iran, Yemen, South Africa, Suez, Israel, Gaza, Aspides, Italy

☆ Italy, Europe need state-controlled cloud services - Leonardo chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Italy and other European countries need government-controlled cloud services to store sensitive data, the head of Italian defence and electronics firm Leonardo (LDOF.MI) said on Wednesday, calling it "one of the key issues of our future". "In my opinion, a safe country needs a government cloud, at least for financial, health and defence data," Chief Executive Roberto Cingolani told a hearing at the defence committee of the Italian lower house of parliament. First of all creating a (national) government cloud. Then understanding that these (national) government clouds need to become European government clouds," he said. Leonardo, a listed company controlled by the Italian government, offers cloud services to the Italian state through a consortium including Telecom Italia (TLIT.MI), Italian state lender CDP and state-owned IT firm Sogei.

Persons: Leonardo, LDOF.MI, Roberto Cingolani, Cingolani, Alvise Armellini, Mike Harrison Organizations: Telecom Italia, Thomson Locations: Italy, Europe

☆ Russian general in Algeria in apparent return to work after Wagner mutiny, Kommersant reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Felix Light | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

General Sergei Surovikin, commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, visits the Joint Headquarters of the Russian armed forces involved in military operations in Ukraine, in an unknown location in Russia, in this picture released December 17, 2022. Sputnik/Gavriil Grigorov/Kremlin via REUTERS Acquire Licensing RightsSept 15 (Reuters) - Russian general Sergei Surovikin is in Algeria as part of a Defence Ministry delegation, in an apparent return to official duties after coming under suspicion in connection with a June mutiny by the Wagner mercenary force, Kommersant newspaper reported on Friday, citing a source close to the general. The newspaper published photographs of Surovikin wearing a khaki suit without military insignia that it said had been taken in Algeria, a major buyer of Russian weapons. He became popular among hardline critics of the Russian military establishment including Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, who was killed in a plane crash last month. Various media outlets reported that Surovikin had fallen out of favour with the Kremlin and that he was being investigated for possible complicity.

Persons: Sergei Surovikin, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin’s, Surovikin, RIA, Viktor Afzalov, Felix Light, Kevin Liffey Organizations: Sputnik, REUTERS Acquire, Defence Ministry, Kommersant, New York Times, Kremlin, Commonwealth of Independent, Institute for, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Russia, Kremlin, Algeria, Moscow, Commonwealth of Independent States, Soviet

☆ French lawmakers raise strategic concerns over Atos sale to Kretinsky
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The logo of Atos is seen on a company building in Nantes, France, March 11, 2022. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe/File PhotoPARIS, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Talks to sell parts of French company Atos (ATOS.PA) to Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky are raising concerns among some French lawmakers, who say the deal risks undermining the independence of France's nuclear deterrence. Lawmakers cannot block a sale of a French company, only the government can if it considers there is a strategic reason for doing so. The lawmakers questioned why an alternative French buyer, a consortium of French companies Astek and ChapsVision, who were reported in French media to have been interested, were not given more consideration. A source close to Astek said Atos's cybersecurity business also hosted other sensitive assets crucial to French intelligence interests.

Persons: Stephane Mahe, Daniel Kretinsky, Atos, Thursday's, Figaro, Cedric Perrin, Kretinsky, Perrin, Astek, Atos's, Michel Rose, Mathieu Rosemain, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Les, Kretinsky, Casino, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Nantes, France, Czech, Europe

☆ All 15 Israel Supreme Court judges to hear judicial overhaul petitions
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM, July 31 (Reuters) - Israel's Supreme Court on Monday said all 15 judges in a historic first would take part in a hearing on arguments against a law that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition passed as part of an overhaul of the judiciary. The Supreme Court agreed to discuss on Sept. 12 petitions to strike down the bill ratified last week that limits its powers to void some decisions made by government and ministers, setting the scene for a constitutional showdown. Netanyahu's coalition says the judicial changes are needed to curb what it describes as overreach by a Supreme Court that it says has become too politically interventionist. "These two elements form the basis of rule of law in Israel and of the balance between the authorities in any democracy." Israel's democratic foundations are relatively fragile and the Supreme Court is seen as crucial for protecting civil rights and the rule of law.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu's, Netanyahu, Yoav Gallant, Henriette Chacar, Ari Rabinovitch, Barbara Lewis, Bill Berkrot, Leslie Adler Organizations: Supreme, Israeli, parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defence Committee, Israel Bar Association, Thomson Locations: Israel

☆ Israeli deputy says normalisation with Saudis does not appear imminent
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-30 | by ( Dan Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

JERUSALEM, July 30 (Reuters) - A top Israeli lawmaker said on Sunday that any forging of relations with Saudi Arabia did not appear imminent, citing what he described as sticking points in negotiations currently being held between Riyadh and U.S. mediators. U.S. President Joe Biden, having dispatched his national security adviser to Saudi Arabia to discuss a possible normalisation deal with Israel that he deems a policy priority, said on Friday that "there's a rapprochement maybe under way". But Riyadh has not followed suit, saying Palestinian demands must first be met. Israeli National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, asked by reporters as he entered the weekly cabinet meeting whether there would be progress in the Saudi talks, said: "I hope so." Saudi Arabia seeks U.S. cooperation in establishing a civilian nuclear programme on its soil.

Persons: Joe Biden, Yuli Edelstein, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Tzachi Hanegbi, Netanyahu, Dan Williams, James Mackenzie, David Evans Organizations: United, Israel, Foreign Affairs, Defence Committee, Israel's Army, Washington, National Security, Tel, Thomson Locations: Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, U.S, Israel, Gulf, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi, Tel Aviv

☆ Top Russian general not seen since mutiny is 'resting', lawmaker says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

July 12 (Reuters) - General Sergei Surovikin, a deputy commander of Russia's military operations in Ukraine who has not been seen in public since last month's armed mutiny by mercenary fighters, is "resting", a lawmaker from the ruling party said on Wednesday. Andrei Kartapolov, head of the State Duma Defence Committee, is heard saying in a video posted on social media: "Surovikin is currently resting. Surovikin, dubbed "General Armageddon" by the Russian press for his aggressive tactics in the Syria conflict, was last seen publicly when he issued a video appeal urging a halt to the June 23-24 mutiny by fighters of Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner mercenary group while it was still underway. A New York Times report based on a U.S. intelligence briefing said last month that Surovikin had advance knowledge of the mutiny and that Russian authorities were checking whether he was complicit. Reporting by Reuters, writing by Mark Trevelyan Editing by Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sergei Surovikin, Andrei Kartapolov, Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner, Surovikin, Wagner, Prigozhin, Sergei Shoigu, Staff Valery Gerasimov, Vladimir Putin, Mark Trevelyan, Gareth Jones Organizations: State Duma Defence Committee, Staff, New York Times, Kremlin, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Syria

☆ Opinion: Victoria Amelina, the sharp and witty Ukrainian writer whose story must be told
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Opinion Olesya Khromeychuk | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —“I really wanted to be the founder of a literature festival in New York,” Victoria Amelina, Ukrainian writer and activist, once told a roomful of Londoners. Her life of late was dedicated to documenting Russian war crimes. Documenting stories of people she met in liberated territories, Victoria found a diary written by the writer and poet Volodymyr Vakulenko. A woman mourns the death of Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina during her memorial service at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery, Kyiv. “Ukrainian manuscripts burn all too well.”Many Ukrainian manuscripts have already burned in the fires caused by Russian shelling.

Persons: “, Read, CNN — “, Victoria Amelina, Olesya, Sharp, Victoria, Andrei Kartapolov, ”, Volodymyr Vakulenko, Volodymyr, Kyiv’s, Michael's, Mikhail Bulgakov, Bulgakov’s Stalin, Margarita, ” “, Volodya Organizations: Ukrainian Institute London, CNN, Russian Duma Defence, New York Literature, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Arsenal, PEN Ukraine, Twitter, Facebook Locations: Central Europe, Khromeychuk, New York, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Kramatorsk, Ukraine, Russian, York, Yorks, Victoria, Kharkiv, Paris, Soviet, St, Kyiv, London, Popasna

☆ Russia's Prigozhin was told he would no longer fight in Ukraine -lawmaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MOSCOW, June 29 (Reuters) - Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was told that his Wagner group would no longer fight in Ukraine as he had refused to sign contracts to bring his mercenaries under the sway of the defence ministry, a senior lawmaker said on Thursday. "As you know, a few days before the attempted mutiny, the defence ministry said that all formations performing combat tasks must sign contracts with the defence ministry," said Kartapolov. Prigozhin said on June 11 that his Wagner fighters would not sign any contract with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, adding that Shoigu was unable to manage military units. Kartapolov said that after Prigozhin's refusal to sign the contracts he had been told that his mercenaries would no longer fight in Ukraine and thus would not receive state money. As a result, the lawmaker said, Prigozhin, committed treason due to "exorbitant ambitions", money and what he cast as an "excited state".

Persons: Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner, Andrei Kartapolov, Prigozhin, Sergei Shoigu, Shoigu, Kartapolov, Alexander Marrow, Gareth Jones Organizations: Defence, Reuters, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Ukraine

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov referred questions about Surovikin to the defence ministry, which has so far made no statement about him. Asked by reporters if the Kremlin could clarify the situation with Surovikin, Peskov said: "No, unfortunately not. "So I recommend that you contact the defence ministry; this is its prerogative." Questions about "structural units within the ministry," Peskov said, should be addressed to the defence ministry. The Kremlin said Putin also chaired a meeting about the development of tourism in the region.

Persons: Wagner, Prigozhin, Sergei Surovikin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Surovikin, Dmitry, Peskov, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Mikhail Gorbachev, Russia's, PUTIN, Alexander Lukashenko, Andrei Kartapolov, Kartapolov, Guy Faulconbridge, Alexander Marrow, Andrew Osborn, Gareth Jones, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: General Staff, Kremlin, Reuters, Thomson Locations: St Petersburg MOSCOW, Ukraine, Russian, Soviet, Kala, Moscow, St Petersburg, Russia, Belarus, Concord

☆ Russian attack cannot be ruled out, says Swedish parliamentary report: SVT
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

STOCKHOLM, June 18 (Reuters) - A Swedish parliament defence committee report said a Russian military attack against Sweden cannot be ruled out, Swedish public service broadcaster SVT said on Sunday, citing sources. Sweden has been scrambling to bolster its defences and applied to join NATO last year following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The parliamentary report, due to be published on Monday, said that although Russian ground forces were tied up in Ukraine other types of military attacks against Sweden could not be ruled out, SVT said citing sources who worked on the report. "Russia has also further lowered its threshold for the use of military force and exhibits a high political and military risk appetite. Russia's ability to carry out operations with air forces, naval forces, long-range weapons or nuclear weapons against Sweden remains intact," SVT said, citing the report.

Persons: Johan Ahlander, David Evans Organizations: SVT, NATO, Nordic, Thomson Locations: STOCKHOLM, Swedish, Russian, Sweden, Ukraine, Turkey, Hungary, Russia

☆ Israel could accept U.S.-Iran nuclear 'understanding', senior lawmaker says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Maayan Lubell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

JERUSALEM, June 17 (Reuters) - Israel could find acceptable an understanding between its arch-foe Iran and the United States if it includes rigorous supervision of Tehran's nuclear programme, a senior lawmaker said in comments aired on Saturday. According to Iranian and Western officials, Israel's main ally Washington is holding talks with Iran to sketch out steps that could include limiting the Iranian nuclear programme. No agreement with Iran would obligate Israel, which will do everything required to defend itself. "Our opposition to the deal - a return to the original (2015) deal - is working, I think." The U.S. government has dismissed reports it is seeking an interim deal with Tehran, which denies seeking the bomb.

Persons: Donald Trump, Yuli Edelstein, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Edelstein's, Netanyahu, Tzachi Hanegbi, Israel didn't, Hanegbi, Israel Hayom, Ron Dermer, Joe Biden's, Dan Williams, David Holmes Organizations: U.S . Congress, parliament's Foreign Affairs, Defence Committee, Press ., Israel, Strategic, AJC Global, Thomson Locations: Israel, Iran, United States, Washington, Tel Aviv, U.S, Tehran

☆ Germany to end Patriot air defence system deployments in Poland, Slovakia this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

"The nations have been informed about the plans," a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence was quoted as saying by Funke media group. The deployment in Poland should end in June while the one in Slovakia will expire by the end of year, the spokesperson added. The German government has also delivered a Patriot system from army stocks will also be delivered to Ukraine this year. Germany had 36 Patriot units when it was NATO's frontline state during the Cold War. Today, the German forces are down to 11 Patriot units.

☆ Russia plans electronic call-up papers in crackdown on draft dodgers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"(This plan) is not connected to mobilisation," he said, repeating previous assurances that there were no plans for a second wave of mobilisation. Under the current system, men targeted by military recruiters are sent paper summons to their registered addresses. Under the new proposals, summons would be sent electronically to a potential draftee's personal account on the main government portal. Once the electronic summons is received, under the legislation, citizens who fail to show up at the military enlistment office would be automatically banned from travelling abroad. Reporting by Andrew Osborn and Caleb Davis Editing by Gareth Jones and Andrew OsbornOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Party pressure mounts on Netanyahu to pause judicial overhaul
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Dan Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Netanyahu, who is on trial on graft charges that he denies, says the overhaul will balance out the branches of government. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, a Likud lawmaker, broke ranks on Saturday by publicly urging Netanyahu to suspend legislation for a month. Gallant's statement was welcomed by senior Likud lawmaker David Bitan. But it was not clear if they or others in Likud might abstain in a ratification vote. But a pro-reform Likud lawmaker, Tally Gotliv, sounded unfazed.

Two lawmakers with knowledge of the exports and two former officials said the approvals reflected Britain’s increased willingness to support Taiwan. One of the lawmakers, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, said authorising the export licences amounted to giving a "green light" to better equip Taiwan. It shows the government authorised 25 export licences to Taiwan during the first nine months of 2022 under the categories "components for submarines" and "technology for submarines." Taiwan has for decades been unable to buy conventional submarines from other countries because of their concerns of angering China. Asked about the decision to approve the increase in export licences, the official said: "You just don't do something like this without thinking through the implications very carefully."

☆ Russian lawmaker introduces bill pushing back conscription age
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Summary This content was produced in Russia, where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine. MOSCOW, March 13 (Reuters) - A senior Russian lawmaker on Monday introduced a bill to push back the age of conscription to compulsory military service to 21-30 years from the current 18-27 years. President Vladimir Putin gave his backing in December to Defence Ministry proposals to push back the age range. However, in September Moscow unilaterally annexed four Ukrainian regions where fighting is continuing, and now considers them Russian territory. Deferrals from military service are available on medical grounds, for university students, and for fathers of large families.

NATO has just completed an extraordinary survey of the remaining munition stocks, a NATO official told Reuters on condition of anonymity. "Those NATO (munitions targets) that we set, and each ally has a specific target, those were not being met for the most part (before the Ukraine war)," the official said. "I would be absolutely gobsmacked if the targets…were not increased," said the NATO official. After the Cold War, the production of ammunition had turned "quite artisanal", said the NATO official. "I don't necessarily think that within the next year our stockpile levels will increase massively," the NATO official said.

New hardline ministers like Itamar Ben-Gvir, a settler from Hebron, will be in charge of police as national security minister, while Bezalel Smotrich, another far-right politician, will have wide control over policy in the West Bank. "Fatah sons, Hamas sons, sons of the Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front are working together within unprecedented resistance formations," Maamar said. Under Israeli policies designed to create economic security incentives, 20,000 Gazans are allowed to cross into Israel for work. For its part, Palestinian Authority officials say Hamas is funding some armed cells in the West Bank, in part to weaken the PA, and Israeli officials say they are also closely watching Hamas' moves in the West Bank. Israel should "weaken the Hamas militarily as much as possible" while helping to improve conditions for Palestinians in both Gaza and the West Bank to reduce the potential for conflict, Ben-Barak said.

Many Germans viewed the end of the Cold War as the end of major conflict for the West. Germany has since become one of Ukraine's top military supporters, having spent 2.2 billion euros on weapons deliveries. 'EMPTY-HANDED' ARMYBeyond the immediate decision on tanks, Pistorius faces the mammoth task of upgrading Germany's military, the Bundeswehr, which army chief Alfons Mais, on the day of Russia's invasion, described as "more or less empty handed". Even before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Germany was 20 billion euros short of reaching NATO's target for ammunitions stockpiling, a defence source said. Analysts and experts say Pistorius will have to find his own voice to push for more spending and an overhaul of Germany's defence and procurement systems.

☆ German Defence minister resigns, successor to be announced promptly
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Lambrecht asked the chancellor to dismiss her, as formally required, and Scholz has accepted it, a government spokesperson said. The chancellor would propose a successor promptly, the person added, refusing to comment on names. Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces Eva Hoegl, junior defence minister Siemtje Moeller, SPD party head Lars Klingbeil and Labour Minister Hubertus Heil have been suggested as candidates by German media. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper said, citing government sources, that a successor would be announced on Tuesday. Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, the head of Germany's parliamentary defence committee and a member of Scholz's junior coalition partner Free Democrats (FDP), called for her successor to be installed quickly.

☆ German defence minister resigns amid criticism, pressure over Ukraine arms
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Lambrecht asked Scholz to dismiss her, as formally required, and he has approved, a spokesperson for the Social Democratic (SPD)-led coalition government said. During a visit to arms manufacturer Hensoldt, Scholz thanked Lambrecht for her service and said he would act fast to replace her. Among the candidates mooted by German media are Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces Eva Hoegl, junior defence minister Siemtje Moeller, SPD party chief Lars Klingbeil and Labour Minister Hubertus Heil. Economy Minister Robert Habeck praised Lambrecht for her ambition to reform the Bundeswehr and said her decision would not have been taken lightly. Associated with this were for me many special impressions, many encounters with interesting, great people," Lambrecht said in the video.

☆ Russia could expand draft age as soon as this spring, lawmaker says
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Russian conscripts called up for military service during the annual autumn draft line up at a gathering point before their departure for garrisons, in Omsk, Russia November 10, 2022. REUTERS/Alexey MalgavkoJan 12 (Reuters) - Russia could raise the upper age limit for citizens to be conscripted into the armed forces as soon as this spring, a senior lawmaker has said, as part of Moscow's plans to boost the number of Russian troops by 30%. The chairman of the Russian parliament's defence committee, Andrei Kartapolov, said in an interview with the official parliamentary newspaper that Russia could raise the upper age limit for conscription to 30 for this year's spring draft. Kartapolov later dismissed such an interpretation, saying there were no plans to increase the number of conscripts once the draft age has risen to 21. Western governments say Russia has lost tens of thousands of soldiers in nearly 11 months of fighting.

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