The Russian military recruited hundreds of thousands of new soldiers in 2023, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced.
Dmitry, currently the Russian Security Council Deputy Chair, confirmed the recruitment achievement on Sunday, Sept. 3.
Russian Military Recruits 280,000 Soldiers
Russian military cadets march on Dvortsovaya Square during the Victory Day military parade in central Saint Petersburg on May 9, 2023. Russia celebrates the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany during World War II.
According to Reuters' latest report, Medvedev is visiting the Far East of Russia to coordinate with local officials to improve the country's armed forces.
"According to the Ministry of Defence, since Jan. 1, about 280,000 people have been accepted into the ranks of the Armed Forces on a contract basis," said the Russian Security Council deputy chair.
In 2022, the Russian government said it wants to expand its military forces by around 1.5 million personnel (a 30% increase).
This is a difficult and ambitious task, especially since undisclosed Russian soldier casualties in the war against Ukraine could discourage recruits.
But, thanks to the recruitment efforts of the Russian military, the country's combat forces are still expanding.
Russian Military's Recruitment Efforts
Russian military troops take part in a military drill on Sernovodsky polygon close to the Chechnya border, some 260 km from south Russian city of Stavropol, on March 19, 2015. About 500 soldiers take part in the military exercises until March 20.
Russia is using different strategies to encourage recruits to join the military. One of the Russian government's techniques is offering a $5,200 sign-in bonus, as reported by Business Insider.
This benefit is partnered with a salary of at least $2,000. The Russian military is offering this to its own country and its neighbor, Kazakhstan.
The former Soviet republic country is a great place to recruit Russian soldiers since it is home to around 3.5 million ethnic Russians.
Kazakhstan is also an allied country of Russia. However, the Kazakh government clarified that it doesn't support the Russian military in its fight against Ukraine.
Aside from this, Kazakhstan also has a law that makes it illegal to join military conflicts abroad just to have financial gains.
This is why Russia is doing its best to persuade Kazakhstan residents to join the military. On its official website, the Russian Army said that Kazakhs who will join them will receive extra benefits.
Critics describe the move of Russia to get new recruits from Kazakhstan as a "desperate" strategy.
"They are trying to use any possible means to recruit people, and they are activating their efforts," said Yuriy Mukhin, a Ukrainian Victims of War board member.
Despite criticisms, Russia is still doing its best to increase the number of its soldiers as the war in Ukraine continues.
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