A stream of volunteers have signed up to participate The Latvian Armyas the country strengthens its defenses in an effort to deter a Russian invasion in the future.
Latvia is one of the three Baltic states that became independent after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Together with Estonia and Lithuania, the country subsequently joined NATO in 2004, believing this would provide the country with a long-term security guarantee against future Russian aggression.
The government scrapped mandatory military service in 2006, believing that NATO membership was a sufficient deterrent.
However, Latvia subsequently changed course Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and decided to reintroduce conscription.
In July 2022, MPs announced plans to require all men aged 18 to 27 to undergo 11 months of military training.
Defense Minister Artis Pabriks said on X that Latvia should accept the proposal, comparing it to the “main condition for the country's survival.”
“The greater the number of soldiers who are prepared and trained, the less likely that will be Russia will want to direct its military aggression against Latvia,” he wrote in 2022.
The National Defense Service Act was eventually signed into law by Latvian President Egils Levits in April 2023.
Orests Rullis is one of the volunteers who subsequently decided to sign up for military service Russia invaded Ukraine. The twenty-one year old is nearing the completion of his training, but plans to join the armed forces as an aircraft carrier.
“Leadership was new to me, and the army really gave it to me,” he told Euronews. “When I am here, I see that everything is planned. I am confident that we can defend [Latvia].”
Latvia has committed to spending €1.1 billion on its military by 2024, with the aim of reaching €1.4 billion by 2027.
The country expects to recruit 1,040 people into the army next year, but aims to recruit as many as 2,800 new soldiers by 2027.