conscription

At the same time, Putin had also signed a law allowing conscription all year round, previously possible only during limited periods in autumn and spring.

Hundreds of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jewish Israelis are taking part in a protest in Jerusalem against changes to a legal exemption for religious students from conscription in the military.

Some ultra-Orthodox rabbis fear that conscription will make young people less religious, but others accept that those who do not study holy texts full-time can enlist.

The man, who asked to be identified as Jonas, said he fled his home country because he feared religious persecution during mandatory conscription in the military.

The junta responded to its losses in late 2023 by starting a forced conscription drive.