Putin Pressures Russian Regions to Find 409,000 Soldiers for War
The Kremlin and Russia’s defense ministry have ordered regional authorities to recruit 409,000 contract soldiers in 2026. Officials are increasingly targeting debtors, criminal suspects, and recently discharged conscripts as Moscow seeks to avoid another mobilization.
The Kremlin has set a nationwide target of recruiting 409,000 contract soldiers this year to replenish Russia's military forces, according to the Financial Times and other sources. Regional authorities are facing mounting pressure to meet the target as they search for willing participants. Janis Kluge, a researcher at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, explained that officials often target individuals with debts, pending investigations, or recent driving infractions.
Russia's defense ministry and Kremlin issued the recruitment quotas, as reported by the FT. Media outlets have documented various recruitment tactics, including police detentions, home visits, and targeting individuals with prior military experience or financial difficulties. These efforts have included coordinated street raids in regions like Penza and Ulyanovsk.
Despite the intensified recruitment drive, regional governments have significantly increased signing bonuses, with some areas offering several million rubles. Rights activists have expressed concern that the pressure campaign aims to avoid a politically unpopular mobilization, as reported by The Moscow Times.
Written by urgent.news from Kyiv Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
