Russia announces 120,000 conscript call-up, repeats pledge not to deploy to Ukraine

Russia's Defense Ministry announced a semi-annual conscription of 120,000 men, reiterating that conscripts will not be sent to fight in Ukraine. This follows a pattern of broken promises from early 2022, when conscripts were deployed and captured despite similar assurances. The move signals continued military manpower needs and raises credibility concerns about official statements.