The Life-Exchange Institution

In July 2026, the joint project of Mediazona and the BBC Russian Service officially confirmed the deaths of 236,066 Russian servicemen, although the actual number is likely much higher. During such large-scale wars in the 20th century, conscription, call-up notices, and criminal liability for evasion were common. However, Russia is conducting a full-scale war against Ukraine without drafting new soldiers or imposing criminal penalties on those who have not signed a contract.

Instead, they use a "partial mobilization" system that relies on individual contractual agreements, recruitment incentives, and criminal amnesty. This system differs from traditional mercenaryism and mobilization, as it buys the individual's biological existence and not their specialized military discipline. Russian contract soldiers cannot be classified as mercenaries, as they typically fail the six criteria set by international law.

The main distinction between the two is that mercenaryism purchases a fighter's combat expertise without their biological existence, whereas Russia's system buys the entire person, including their body, for the duration of the contract. The Russian military system has evolved to prioritize a large, constantly moving force capable of waging aggressive warfare, with recruitment methods that prioritize the individual's biological existence over their combat training.