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The urgent need to reinforce its troops in Ukraine has led Russia to adopt unusual recruitment strategies, revealing an alarming human and ethical cost to maintaining the war effort.
Recent reports paint a contradictory and bleak picture. In many rural areas of Russia, compensation payments to the families of fallen soldiers exceed the earnings these individuals earned in life. Data updated in 2024 shows that, given the increasing number of casualties, the Kremlin decided to drastically relax its recruitment rules.
Russia's territorial advances and human losses
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia gained some 4.168 square kilometers of territory in Ukraine by 2024. However, this territorial expansion came at a high price: an estimated 427.000 Russian troops killed or wounded. These figures reflect the brutality of the conflict and the ongoing need to replenish troops.
Reinforcement in the ranks in the midst of war
Since the start of the invasion, Russia has faced challenges in maintaining the necessary number of troops. Significant losses of experienced fighters have prompted the Kremlin to adopt drastic tactics to attract new recruits. As reported by New York Times, the government has expanded recruitment to include convicted felons, criminal suspects, debtors, and even immigrants. This strategy, while pragmatic, raises serious ethical and social concerns.
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Criminals in Russia trade prison for combat
Initially restricted to convicted inmates, conscription has been expanded under new laws signed by President Vladimir Putin. Now, even individuals awaiting trial can avoid prison by joining the military.
Notable cases include two men arrested in St. Petersburg for attempted cocaine trafficking. Their charges were dropped after they enlisted in assault units. There are also reports of murderers and thieves who traded long sentences for military contracts.
Economic incentives drive recruitment
In addition to the amnesty, a new economic stimulus has been introduced. Since December, men in debt can have debts of up to 10 million rubles (about $100.000) forgiven if they agree to serve in the army. This even includes arrears of child support.
For the Kremlin, this approach not only solves the soldier shortage, but also reduces costs compared to the high bonuses offered to civilian volunteers.
Immigrants in Russia under pressure to serve
Another source of soldiers is newly naturalized immigrants. Reports indicate that police raids on markets and warehouses result in detentions and forced recruitment. In regions such as Sverdlovsk, immigrants have been coerced into signing military contracts, often without fully understanding the terms.
Recruitment in Russian prisons
The prison system, with a capacity of 106.000 inmates, became a crucial reservoir for recruitment. Previous campaigns had already emptied the prisons, offering convicts the chance to fight in the war.
Now, there is a trend toward repopulating the prison system, forcing suspects to choose between enlisting or facing long trials and harsh sentences. This practice has turned military conscription into a “preferable” alternative to overcrowded prisons and poor conditions.
Corruption and public figures on the battlefield
The latest wave of recruitment has targeted politicians and civil servants convicted of corruption. In Vladivostok, former mayors and civil servants have agreed to enlist to avoid punishment. Many of them have been assigned to battalions with lower combat risks, sparking criticism of the unequal treatment of recruits.
A forced choice: prison or war
For many, conscription is not a voluntary decision, but a desperate alternative to two equally difficult options. Human rights organizations describe conditions in Russian prisons as inhumane, making the battlefield a less terrifying choice.
Cases like that of the former Olympic medalist Andrey Perlov, 62, highlight this dilemma. Accused of embezzlement, Perlov faces the possibility of long-term imprisonment if he refuses to enlist, exemplifying the use of conscription as a form of coercion.
Social and moral consequences
The use of these extreme tactics has created deep divisions in Russian society. The disconnect between crimes and punishments raises fears of a rise in crime in the future as the justice system loses credibility.
Furthermore, the families of soldiers are faced with a dilemma between the dangers of the front and the oppressive conditions of prisons. Critics point out that forced militarization reflects the Kremlin's attempt to resolve internal social and political crises through war.
While the long-term consequences remain uncertain, the impact of these extreme measures is undeniable, heightening tensions both on the frontline and within Russia itself.
We have to send Brazilian politicians there!!!
I thought the part about emptying the prison system was great. In Brazil we have the same problem. There aren't enough cells for everyone. That's why the police let them loose in the hills of Rio de Janeiro and we're the ones who end up being prisoners. Look how great...