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Putin conscripts 160K men as Russia eyes Ukraine offensive
Russia has initiated its largest military draft in 14 years as reports indicate Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing a spring assault on Ukraine despite ongoing peace negotiations to end the three-year war.
Putin has called up 160,000 men as part of the country’s bi-annual conscription drive as Russia seeks to beef up its military ranks.
According to the legislation, citizens aged 18 to 30 will be called up for mandatory military service through June 15. The spring draft marks the largest conscription campaign since spring 2011, when 200,000 men were called up for service. Last year, 150,000 men were called, following 134,500 in 2022.
Russia has initiated its largest military draft in 14 years of 160,000 men as reports indicate Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing a spring assault on Ukraine. (Contributor/Getty Images)
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The Kremlin and Defense Ministry insist the latest conscripts are not being sent into combat and that the draft is unrelated to the war in Ukraine. Russian authorities say troops deployed to Ukraine only include volunteers who signed contracts with the military.
Some draftees, however, fought and were taken prisoners when the Ukrainian military launched an incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August.
President Donald Trump has been trying to secure a ceasefire deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin. (Getty Images | Fox News Digital)
Putin said late last year that Russia should increase the overall size of its military to almost 2.39 million and its number of active servicemen to 1.5 million.
It comes as a report suggests the Kremlin is preparing a six- to nine-month offensive across the Ukrainian front, potentially stretching over 1,000 kilometers, according to The New Voice of Ukraine. Potential targets include Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhya oblasts, as well as the Kursk Oblast, where they’ve seen recent success.
The offensive is also aimed at maximizing pressure on Ukraine and strengthening the Kremlin’s negotiating position in ceasefire talks, Ukrainian government and military analysts said.
Meanwhile, U.S.-led talks attempting to broker a ceasefire deal appear to have stalled. The U.S. has struggled in its efforts to secure an immediate 30-day ceasefire, despite Moscow saying it agreed with a truce «in principle.»
Negotiations have continued since the infamous dust-up at the Oval Office in February between President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (Getty Images)
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Rebekah Koffler, a former DIA intelligence officer who specializes in Russia’s war-fighting strategy and Putin’s thinking, told Fox News Digital that Putin’s goal with his conscription drive is to prolong the fighting.
«There’s no ceasefire and no peace plan between Russia and Ukraine to be had,» said Koffler, the author of a best-selling book «Putin’s Playbook.» «What President Trump seeks is regretfully, unachievable. Putin’s goal is to keep fighting, in order to compel Ukraine to capitulate.»
Trump is trying to secure a peace and rare earth minerals deal, while on Sunday the president said he did not think Putin was going to go back on his word for a partial ceasefire.
Koffler, meanwhile, said the latest conscription numbers are intended to ensure that the correlation of forces on the battlefield and in reserves, continues to favor Russia.
«Now that Germany and France are considering to deploy reassurance forces into Ukraine, Putin is factoring in those numbers, so he is increasing his force’s posture, to deter such a deployment or failing to prevent it by force.»
A car, destroyed by a Russian drone, in the center of Kharkiv, Ukraine, on March 29, 2025. Two people were killed in a massive attack on the city. (Sofiia Bobok/Anadolu via Getty Images)
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«Putin has prepared Russia for a long, protracted conflict, in which he wants the Russian forces to be ready to fight till the last Ukrainian and the last missile in the NATO arsenal,» Koffler said.
She said Putin is also considering the possibility of having a direct kinetic war with NATO, in the event that NATO decides to deploy forces into the theater in Ukraine.
«So, he intends for these mobilization numbers as a deterrence value and battlefield utility, if it comes to that.»
Fox News’ Rachel Wolf and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
INTERNACIONAL
Pope Leo urges war leaders to halt fighting after deadly strike on school sparks outrage
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Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called for an immediate ceasefire in the war involving Iran, delivering his strongest remarks yet on the conflict and urging leaders responsible for the fighting to halt violence after deadly strikes that hit schools and civilian areas.
The Associated Press reported the pope made the remarks at the end of his Sunday noon blessing at the Vatican, where he appealed to leaders involved in the conflict to halt the fighting and pursue dialogue instead of continued military escalation.
«On behalf of the Christians of the Middle East and all women and men of good will, I appeal to those responsible for this conflict,» Leo said. «Cease fire so that avenues for dialogue may be reopened. Violence can never lead to the justice, stability, and peace that the people are waiting for.»
Leo did not cite the U.S. or Israel by name, though he appeared to reference an attack in the opening days of the war that struck a school in Iran and killed more than 165 people, many of them children.
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Pope Leo XIV called Sunday for an immediate ceasefire in the war involving Iran. (Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images)
U.S. officials said the strike may have been based on outdated intelligence, and an investigation into the incident is underway.
The pope said he was particularly close to the families of victims killed in attacks that have struck schools, hospitals and residential areas during the conflict.
He also expressed concern about the impact of the fighting in Lebanon, where aid groups have warned the escalating conflict could trigger a humanitarian crisis.
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This picture obtained from Iran’s ISNA news agency shows the site of a strike on a girls’ school in Minab, in Iran’s southern Hormozgan province, on Feb. 28, 2026. (Ali Najafi/ISNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Christian communities in southern Lebanon are of particular concern to the Vatican, as they have long been seen as an important presence for Christians across a largely Muslim region.
For much of the two weeks since the conflict began, Leo has limited his public comments to broader appeals for peace and dialogue while avoiding direct references to the U.S. or Israel – a stance consistent with the Vatican’s longstanding tradition of diplomatic neutrality.
Some Catholic leaders, however, have taken a more direct stance on the conflict.
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Pope Leo XIV arrives to hold his weekly general audience in St. Peter’s Square, at the Vatican on March 4, 2026. (Alessandra Tarantino/AP Photo)
Cardinal Robert McElroy, the archbishop of Washington, described the war as morally unjustifiable, while Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich criticized the White House for sharing social media posts about the war that included video game-style imagery.
Meanwhile, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin rejected Washington’s characterization of the fighting as a «preventive war,» but said the Holy See continues to keep lines of communication open with all sides.
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«The Holy See speaks with everyone,» Parolin said. «When necessary we speak also with the Americans, with the Israelis and show them what to us are the solutions.»
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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INTERNACIONAL
Pentagon identifies 6 US airmen killed in refueling tanker crash in Iraq after midair collision
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The Pentagon has identified six U.S. service members who were killed when a KC-135 refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq during a combat mission in support of Operation Epic Fury.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday, took place in «friendly» airspace during an unspecified incident involving another aircraft. While the other plane landed safely, the KC-135 crashed. Military officials said the incident was not due to hostile or friendly fire and remains under investigation.
The airmen were assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida and the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, according to U.S. government and state officials.
Those killed were Maj. John «Alex» Klinner, 33; Capt. Ariana Savino, 31; Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34; Capt. Seth Koval, 38; Capt. Curtis Angst, 30; and Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28.
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Maj. John ‘Alex’ Klinner
Maj. John «Alex» Klinner, 33, leaves behind three small children — 7-month-old twins and a 2-year-old son, his brother-in-law, James Harrill, confirmed.
A graduate of Auburn University and an eight-year U.S. Air Force veteran from Birmingham, Alabama, Klinner had recently moved with his family into a new home, according to his wife, Libby Klinner.
The Pentagon identified six U.S. Air Force airmen killed when their aircraft crashed in western Iraq, as investigators work to determine the cause of the deadly incident. (Mary Remmes via AP)
«It’s kind of heartbreaking to say: He was just a really good dad and really loved his family a lot — like a lot,» Harrill said.
An outdoorsman who enjoyed hiking, Klinner was also known for helping others. Harrill recalled that when he last saw him in January during a family wedding, Klinner helped shovel Harrill’s vehicle out of the snow.
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«Alex was one of those guys that had this steady command about him,» Harrill said. «He was literally one of the most kind, giving people.»
Libby Klinner said her heart is broken for their children, who will grow up not knowing their father.
«They won’t get to see firsthand the way he would jump up to help in any way he could,» she wrote in a post. «They won’t see how goofy and funny he was. They won’t witness his selflessness, the way he thought about everyone else before himself. They won’t get to feel the deep love he had for them.»
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Klinner was assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida, though Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said he was stationed in Birmingham.
Capt. Ariana Savino
Capt. Ariana Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington, was also assigned to the 6th Air Refueling Wing at MacDill Air Force Base.
The deaths of six U.S. Air Force airmen in an aircraft crash in Iraq bring the number of U.S. troops killed in connection with the Iran conflict to 13. (Reuters)
Savino was among the crew members aboard the KC-135 refueling aircraft when it crashed in western Iraq.
Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt
Tech. Sgt. Ashley Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky, was the third member of the MacDill-based crew killed in the crash.
Six American airmen died in a U.S. Air Force aircraft crash in western Iraq, officials said, bringing the number of U.S. troops killed in the conflict with Iran to 13. (Reuters)
Pruitt served with the 6th Air Refueling Wing and was deployed as part of the mission when the aircraft went down.
Capt. Seth Koval
Capt. Seth Koval, 38, served as a KC-135R Stratotanker instructor pilot with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron at the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio.
The U.S. military released the names of six Air Force airmen killed in a crash in western Iraq as the investigation into the incident continues. (United States Air Force)
The Ohio National Guard said Koval was an aircraft commander with 19 years of service. While the Ohio National Guard listed his home in Stoutsville, Ohio, the U.S. government listed his hometown as Mooresville, Indiana.
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A graduate of Purdue University, Koval first enlisted in 2006 as a machinist with the Indiana National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing before transferring to the Ohio Air National Guard in 2017. He earned his commission in 2018 and completed instructor pilot upgrade in 2024. Over the course of his career, Koval logged 2,076 total flight hours, including 443 combat hours.
Capt. Curtis Angst
Capt. Curtis Angst, 30, served as a KC-135R pilot with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron at the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio.
While the Ohio National Guard listed his home as Columbus, the U.S. government listed his hometown as Wilmington, Ohio. A graduate of the University of Cincinnati with a degree in aerospace engineering, Angst initially enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard in 2015 as a vehicle maintenance technician with the 123rd Air Control Squadron.
Six airmen, including a squadron operations chief and multiple captains, died in a U.S. Air Force aircraft crash in western Iraq, the Pentagon said. (United States Air Force)
He earned his commission in 2021, completed undergraduate pilot training in 2023, and qualified as a KC-135R pilot in April 2024. During his career, Angst logged 880 total flight hours, including 67 combat hours.
Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons
Tech. Sgt. Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio, served as a KC-135R boom operator with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron. He was responsible for transferring fuel from the tanker to receiver aircraft during missions.
Among those killed in the Iraq crash were a major overseeing flight training and a boom operator remembered for his «million-dollar smile.» (United States Air Force)
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Simmons entered the Air Force in 2017 and initially served in the security forces before transitioning to aviation in 2022. He became a mobility force aviator in 2023 and reached the rank of technical sergeant on May 1, 2023. During his career, Simmons logged 779 total flight hours, including 230.4 combat hours.
Simmons’ family told WCMH-TV in Columbus they were devastated by the loss.
«Tyler’s smile could light up any room, his strong presence would fill it. His parents, grandparents, family and friends are grief stricken for the loss of life,» they said.
Maj. Gen. Matthew S. Woodruff, Ohio adjutant general, said the state is mourning the loss of the three «remarkable» Ohio airmen.
«Today we mourn the loss of three remarkable Airmen whose service and commitment embodied the very best of our Ohio National Guard,» Woodruff said.
U.S. Central Command said the aircraft crashed during a combat mission over western Iraq in «friendly» territory. Military officials stated that the incident involved an unspecified interaction with another aircraft that landed safely and that the crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire.
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The KC-135 Stratotanker refuels other aircraft in midair, allowing them to fly longer distances and sustain operations without landing. The aircraft can also be used to transport wounded personnel and conduct surveillance missions.
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker refueling tanker aircraft takes off from the Kadena Air Base, west of Okinawa, southern Japan, Aug. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
The Congressional Research Service says the Air Force had 376 KC-135 aircraft last year, including 151 on active duty, 163 in the Air National Guard and 62 in the Air Force Reserve. The aircraft has been in service for more than 60 years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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INTERNACIONAL
Donald Trump y Keir Starmer dialogaron sobre la importancia de “reabrir” el estrecho de Ormuz
El presidente estadounidense Donald Trump y el primer ministro británico Keir Starmer conversaron este domingo sobre la crítica situación en el estrecho de Ormuz, actualmente cerrado por Irán en respuesta a los ataques de Estados Unidos e Israel.
Según un comunicado de Downing Street, ambos líderes destacaron la importancia de reabrir el paso marítimo para frenar el aumento de los precios globales y normalizar el comercio internacional.
“Los líderes discutieron la situación en desarrollo en Oriente Medio y la importancia de reabrir el estrecho de Ormuz para acabar con las perturbaciones en el transporte marítimo mundial, que están provocando un incremento de los costos en todo el mundo”, indicó un portavoz británico.
Starmer aprovechó la llamada para expresar sus condolencias por los militares estadounidenses fallecidos durante el conflicto, que comenzó el 28 de febrero. El Reino Unido, aunque no participa de manera activa en la ofensiva militar, ha permitido el uso de bases británicas por parte de las fuerzas estadounidenses y ha reforzado su presencia en la región con operaciones defensivas, incluyendo el derribo de drones iraníes.
Tras un ataque con dron a la base británica de Akrotiri en Chipre, Starmer ordenó el despliegue del destructor HMS Dragon, helicópteros y aviones antidrones al área.
La conversación entre Trump y Starmer se produce en un contexto de presión internacional para resolver el bloqueo del estrecho de Ormuz, por donde transita aproximadamente el 20% del petróleo mundial.
El sábado, Trump instó públicamente a países como China, Francia, Japón, Corea del Sur y el propio Reino Unido a enviar buques de guerra para garantizar la seguridad de la vía y contrarrestar la amenaza iraní. El régimen de Teherán, según fuentes citadas por Downing Street, mantiene el cierre de Ormuz como medida de presión y en represalia por los ataques occidentales.
En paralelo, Trump ha reiterado en sus declaraciones que las fuerzas estadounidenses han causado importantes daños en las infraestructuras petroleras iraníes, en particular en la isla de Kharg.
“Podemos golpearla unas cuantas veces más solo por diversión”, dijo Trump a NBC News, advirtiendo que no está dispuesto a negociar mientras continúe el bloqueo.
Por su parte, el canciller iraní Abbas Araqchi rechazó cualquier posibilidad de diálogo con Washington, afirmando en CBS que “no hemos pedido negociaciones ni alto el fuego” y que Teherán está preparado para resistir mientras sea necesario.
“No es una guerra de supervivencia. Somos lo suficientemente estables y fuertes”, aseguró Araqchi.
La Casa Blanca, según reportó The Wall Street Journal, está cerca de anunciar un acuerdo con varios países para formar una coalición internacional destinada a escoltar barcos comerciales a través del estrecho. Las discusiones continúan sobre el calendario de inicio de estas operaciones, si se implementarán durante el conflicto o solo una vez que concluyan las hostilidades.
El secretario de Energía de Estados Unidos, Chris Wright, declaró que el gobierno espera que el conflicto termine en cuestión de semanas y que, con ello, se estabilicen los precios del petróleo.
El Reino Unido, tras la llamada de Starmer con Trump, también coordinó su posición con Canadá para analizar el impacto del cierre de Ormuz en el comercio internacional y acordó mantener consultas bilaterales sobre la crisis.
Mientras tanto, el bloqueo de Ormuz sigue alterando el mercado energético mundial y prolonga la incertidumbre respecto al suministro y los costos del petróleo, en un contexto en el que ningún actor internacional concreta aún una solución inmediata para la reapertura del paso estratégico.
(Con información de AFP, EFE y Europa Press)
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