Russia, Reserve Forces Service Period Extended by 5 Years... Amendment Passed in Lower House

Dongwon '1st Priority' Group 1 Upper Age Limit Raised from 35 to 40 Years

The Russian State Duma has adopted a legislative amendment extending the service age of its reservists belonging to certain ranks by five years.

According to RIA Novosti and RBC on the 16th (local time), the Russian State Duma passed this legislative amendment at a plenary session on the 14th.

Russian citizens are organized into reservist groups 1, 2, and 3 based on their age and rank at the time of discharge after completing military service. Those with ranks of soldier, non-commissioned officer, or warrant officer at discharge belong to Group 1 until age 35, Group 2 until age 45, and Group 3 until age 50.

The appearance of Russian reservists during military training
Photo by EPA Yonhap News

When the Russian Ministry of Defense mobilizes reservists, it first calls up reservists in Group 1, and if additional personnel are needed, it sequentially drafts reservists from Groups 2 and 3.

With this legislative amendment, the composition of reservists in the ranks of soldier, non-commissioned officer, and warrant officer will change, extending their service period by five years.

According to the amendment, the upper age limit for Group 1 in these ranks will be raised from 35 to 40 years, Group 2 from 45 to 50 years, and Group 3 from 50 to 55 years. Additionally, the mobilization age for reservists with field officer ranks at discharge will increase from 60 to 65 years, and for company-grade officer reservists from 55 to 60 years.

The amendment also includes provisions allowing foreigners to serve as Russian reservists under contract in fields not related to state secret information work.

Earlier, in mid-last month, the Russian State Duma adopted another amendment to gradually raise the conscription age for regular soldiers, currently 18 to 27 years old, to 21 to 30 years old by 2026. Accordingly, starting next year, the conscription age will first change to 19 to 30 years, then to 20 to 30 years in 2025, and finally to 21 to 30 years in 2026, raising the lower conscription age limit step by step each year.

Some argue that Russia has taken these measures to supplement its regular army personnel, which have been depleted due to the prolonged Ukraine crisis.