Russia moves to recruit more soldiers by eliminating its age limit for military service after a series of setbacks in Ukraine

Russian lawmakers on Friday took steps to expand its military recruitment to include older citizens as its forces have taken major hits and been pushed out of key areas in Ukraine.

The New York Times reported that an amendment was introduced in Russia's parliament that would eliminate the requirement that first-time military enlistments be between the ages of 18 to 40.

Russian citizens over the age of 18 would be allowed to join the war effort. Highly professional specialists are needed to operate military equipment, according to a statement from the lower house of Parliament. Medical workers and engineers were included in the statement.

There was no need for additional ground troops in Ukraine. Russia has lost a third of its ground combat force since invading in February, according to the UK's Ministry of Defense.

Russian forces failed to capture the capital city of Kyiv and the second-largest city of Kharkiv. Russian forces were redeployed to the eastern Donbas region after being pushed out of the latter.

The secretary-general of NATO said earlier this week that Russian efforts in the Donbas had also stopped.