Russia's urgent need to bolster its war effort in Ukraine has prompted a bill by politicians on Friday to allow over 40 and foreigners over 30 to sign up for the military.
Reuters reports that the country's State Duma, the parliament's lower house, said it would enable the military to utilise the skills of older professionals.
"For the use of high-precision weapons, the operation of weapons and military equipment, highly professional specialists are needed. Experience shows that they become such by the age of 40–45," it wrote.
Russia's inept military options has seen huge setbacks and heavy losses of soldiers and equipment in the 86-day-old war, in which Ukraine has mobilised practically its entire adult male population.
The Duma said the proposed legislation would also make it easier to recruit civilian medics, engineers and operations and communications specialists.
