Ukraine-Russia war latest: Ukraine ‘takes 100 prisoners of war’ inside captured region – and ‘launches major attack on Russian airfields’

Russia is using conscripts with “no experience” to defend land in the border region of Kursk, the Moscow Times reports.

Following Ukraine’s invasion of the Russian region, reports have emerged of conscripts being drawn into combat.

And at least 52 families contacted Russia’s defence ministry after losing contact with their sons, the independent newspaper reports.

Families have also begun a petition asking the Kremlin to remove soldiers from the Kursk region.

The petition seen by the Moscow Times reads: “We are the mothers of conscripts, and we ask you to withdraw conscripts from combat zones. They have no experience in military engagements and lack weapons.”

It is not clear how many conscripts are fighting in the Kursk region.

How does conscription work in Russia?

All men in Russia are required to do a year-long military service, or equivalent training during higher education, from the age of 18.

But compulsory military service has long been a sensitive issue in Russia, where many men go to great lengths to avoid it.

Under Russian law, a conscript can be sent into combat just four months after being drafted.

This year, Russia’s lower house of parliament voted to raise the maximum age at which men can be conscripted to 30 from 27. 

Conscripts cannot legally be deployed to fight outside Russia.