Over 50 young men dodge June draft

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Photo: Meelis Meilbaum / Virumaa Teataja

The Estonian Defense Resources Agency has started work to find out why more than 50 conscripts expected to start military service this summer did not respond to the June call-up.  

«Fifty-seven conscripts did not turn up for military service,» a spokeswoman for the agency told BNS. «We are currently at work to find out why - for this, the young men are invited to give statements.»

Past experience shows that often the reason is an unexpected health problem such as a broken bone or an illness, but there are other reasons too, she said.

At the end of June 1,797 young Estonians including 10 young women started service in units of the defense forces. Most of them will train as squad or reserve platoon leaders during the 11-month service. The summer call-up brought the biggest numbers of conscripts to the Kuperjanov Battalion, the Logistics Battalion and the Viru Infantry Battalion.

The final call-up of the year, set for Sept. 28-Oct. 2 this year, will see around 1,200 young men start the mandatory conscript service.

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