What impact will raising the cutoff age for recruitment have on Russia's war in Ukraine?

Synopsis

The Wagner group, led by Evgeni Prigozhin, plays a significant role in the ongoing war in Ukraine, having won several battles and recently launching a short-lived mutiny against Russia's military leadership. In a Telegram message, Prigozhin announces a pause in fighter recruitment, although Wagner's operations will continue in Africa and Belarus, raising concerns among NATO neighbors. Following the failed rebellion, some Wagner fighters have relocated to Belarus. Meanwhile, Russia's Parliament has approved a law to raise the military conscription age from 27 to 30 years, indicating a need for more troops. This decision comes after President Putin's mobilization of 300,000 troops last September. While Moscow has not disclosed the number of troops deployed in Ukraine, Ukrainian military intelligence estimates around 280,000 Russian soldiers are involved. Independent reports suggest that Russian military casualties may be as high as 50,000, despite official figures stating only 6,000 deaths.