Partisans say Russian recruiters in occupied Donetsk are taking drunk men from bars straight to enlistment offices

Reports suggest that Russian recruiters in the occupied Donetsk region are actively targeting drunk men from bars, swiftly transporting them to enlistment offices, according to partisans affiliated with the ATESH movement. An insider within Russia's Dnepr group of forces reported this disturbing trend. This disturbing pattern emerged three days prior, with three Russian legal-aid groups reporting 47 forced recruitment complaints across 16 regions during July and August, primarily targeting individuals with alcohol, drug, or mental health issues.

The same method is now being employed inside occupied Donetsk, where potential recruits are coerced into signing contracts with the Russian army. ATESH claims that volunteers have already been integrated into two Russian units, namely the 328th Guards Air Assault Regiment deployed on the Zaporizhzhia front and the 77th Separate Motor Rifle Regiment based in Donetsk Oblast.

Both units are utilizing these new recruits to replenish losses in ongoing assaults. However, these claims remain unverified. The recruitment method appears to stem from a depletion of volunteer forces, as Russian authorities are no longer able to compensate for losses through financial incentives or propaganda. Consequently, enlistment offices, local administrations, and recruiters have resorted to deceptive tactics, applying pressure, and even forcibly abducting individuals.

This assertion aligns with a concern raised by a Russian rights group. Grigory Sverdlin, director of the anti-mobilization group Idite Lesom, attributes the growing pressure to the dwindling availability of volunteers. ATESH operates within the occupied territories of Ukraine and Russia, comprising Ukrainian, Crimean Tatar, anti-war Russian, and internal military and occupation administration sources. However, their claims often remain unverifiable due to the secretive nature of their operations.