Russia is trying with all its might to strengthen the army to prevent a new mobilization. So far this year, 280,000 men have enlisted in the army, the Russians said. According to British intelligence, Moscow is even recruiting new soldiers from neighboring countries and among Asian migrants.
A year ago, President Vladimir Putin announced a ‘partial mobilization’ of 300,000 reservists. This not only provoked a storm of protest in Russia, but also led to an exodus of men who fled to neighboring countries to avoid being sent to the front.
Although reliable figures are lacking, Russia is suffering heavy losses in the war in Ukraine. The Ukrainian army is steadily advancing with a counter-offensive. Moreover, Putin can no longer blindly trust the Wagner mercenary army, which revolted last summer. The question is what Wagner’s mercenaries do after the death of leader Yevgeny Progizhin, who recently died in a plane crash in Russia.
Dmitry Medvedev, former president and vice-chairman of the Russian Security Council, says that hard work is being done to strengthen the army. “As of January 1, according to the Defense Ministry, about 280,000 people have been recruited into the ranks of the armed forces on a contract basis,” state news agency Tass quoted Medvedev as saying on a visit to Russia’s far east.
Ambitious plan
Last year, Russia launched a plan to increase military personnel by more than 30 percent to 1.5 million. This ambitious goal was made even more difficult by the heavy losses in the war.
Some Russian politicians suggested that Russia needs a professional army of seven million to guarantee the country’s security. That would be a drain on Russia’s budget. Putin wants to prevent another, criticized mobilization ahead of next year’s presidential election.
The Kremlin has previously taken recruits from prisons to join the fight. Since the invasion, tens of thousands of Russian detainees have been sent to the front in exchange for their freedom. Now female prisoners are also getting the same offer.
Neighboring countries
According to the British Ministry of Defence, Russia is now targeting its recruitment arrows at other groups to absorb losses: migrants from Central Asia and soldiers in neighboring Armenia and Kazakhstan. According to the British, advertisements have been circulating since the end of June promising new soldiers an attractive salary.
According to the British ministry, Moscow is also specifically targeting the group of ethnic Russians in the north of neighboring Kazakhstan. In the autumn of 2022, hundreds of thousands of Russians still traveled to Kazakhstan to flee mobilization in their own country.
In the spring, the British already reported that the Russian army would persuade migrant workers from Central Asia to fight in Ukraine. There would be at least six million migrants from Central Asian countries in Russia.
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2023-09-03 08:26:52
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