iStories investigation shows how Russia recruits soldiers for its war against Ukraine: private firms, targeted Telegram ads, and phone numbers bought for as little as 12 cents apiece
An iStories correspondent took a job at Voevoda, one of the major companies in a private recruitment market that has flourished since Russia began paying people to bring recruits into the army. Voevoda’s business works like multi-level marketing, and its enlisters (known as “recruiters”) can earn millions of rubles if they’re good at the job. Meduza summarizes the key findings of the iStories…
iStories investigation reveals Russia's tactics for recruiting soldiers in Ukraine's conflict. A private recruitment market, Voevoda, has emerged as a key player, despite being founded in 2014. Revenue skyrocketed tenfold in a year, reaching 700 million rubles. The company recruits through targeted ads on Telegram and purchases phone numbers at low costs, as low as 12 cents per number.
Recruiters earn significant sums per contract soldier, depending on the region of the recruit's residence. The company also recruits foreigners, charging 300,000 rubles per recruit, after clearing the list with Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB).
Written by urgent.news from Meduza (English)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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