Russia’s Military Recruitment Surge Amid Ukraine Conflict
Russia’s military has reported a significant increase in people signing up to fight in Ukraine following a deadly terror attack in Moscow last month. The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the attack, which resulted in the deaths of over 140 people, marking one of the worst attacks in Russia in recent years.
Motivation to Join
The Russian defense ministry noted a surge in individuals expressing interest in signing contracts to participate in the special military operation in Ukraine. More than 100,000 people have voluntarily signed up to fight in 2024, with 16,000 new recruits in the 10 days following the attack. Many candidates cited a desire to avenge the victims of the tragic event on March 22 as their primary motivation for enlisting.
Political Context
While Kyiv has denied any involvement in the attack, US officials have suggested that Russia was warned about a potential attack on Moscow suburbs. President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly linked the attack to Ukraine and its Western supporters, claiming that Ukraine played a role in plotting the incident. Putin previously stated that Russia had over 600,000 troops engaged in the conflict and has increased the total troop numbers to 1.32 million.
Recruitment Strategy
Russian forces have a significant manpower advantage over Ukrainian forces, with the army offering competitive salaries to attract new recruits. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu aims to expand the number of contract soldiers to 745,000 this year, focusing on voluntary enlistment rather than conscription. The recruitment drive has targeted regions with high poverty rates and ethnic republics within Russia.