Papikyan on Upcoming Drafts

In the upcoming year and a half, starting from January 1, we will have the opportunity for three additional drafts, namely the summer draft, winter draft, and the upcoming summer draft, designated as 'Defender of the Fatherland' for an additional increment. This was stated by Defense Minister Suren Papikyan during the presentation of the draft law on the 'Status of Military Personnel' at the National Assembly’s Defense Committee.

Papikyan emphasized that preliminary calculations indicate that personnel replenishment will increase when the soldiers drafted in January are discharged. He mentioned that the minimum figure of 4,229 will be surpassed, as the possibilities for increasing human resources have significantly improved.

The Minister reiterated that the exact numbers of the drafts and the total composition of the armed forces are confidential and not subject to publication. He also noted that apart from the 'Defender of the Fatherland' program, there are more than 1,000 contracts in force as of 2025.

According to Papikyan, the reforms implemented in recent years have significantly enhanced the attractiveness of military service, contributing to the increase in recruitment numbers.