69% of Russian soldiers on Zaporizhzhia front line have criminal records, Ukrainian military says

According to Ukrainian military spokesperson Anastasiia Shevchenko, 69% of Russian soldiers at the front line near Zaporizhzhia city have criminal records. This high percentage may be attributed to the overrepresentation of individuals from poor or disadvantaged backgrounds in the Russian armed forces, as well as the practice of offering contracts to avoid prison time.

Ukrainian analysis reveals that 31% of the total Russian force signed up to avoid criminal charges, while 24% enlisted to improve their financial situation. Since a partial mobilization in fall 2022, Moscow has primarily relied on voluntary recruitment, offering significant bonuses to attract recruits from economically and socially depressed regions of Russia.

Foreign fighters from the Global South and prisoners, including those recruited by the Wagner mercenary group, have also contributed to the Russian army's ranks. Despite the Ukrainian military claiming stable recruitment rates, the current influx of new Russian soldiers has not been sufficient to yield significant battlefield gains.

The Kremlin is preparing to conduct a new round of forced mobilization, potentially mobilizing up to 300,000 troops, in an attempt to bolster the military's offensive efforts and expand threats in various regions, including Ukraine's northern border.