Moscow is preparing to hire more contract soldiers and for now avoid mass mobilization, which could undermine support for the war against Ukraine among Russians, Bloomberg writes.
The publication notes that the Kremlin does not want to repeat the mobilization of September 2022, which undermined public trust and provoked the departure of almost a million Russians abroad.
According to the head of the Moscow analytical Center for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies Ruslana Pukhova, if Russia recruits up to 30 thousand recruits every month, then this year it can replenish the ranks of the army by 300 thousand.
At the same time, the Russians continue the offensive, relying on their superiority in ammunition. And Ukrainian forces are experiencing difficulties due to delays in military assistance from the United States and Europe and a lack of personnel.
Bloomberg sources say there are growing concerns that Russia could make major gains in the coming weeks. First of all, we are talking about the capture of Chasovy Yar, whose high altitude makes it crucial for Ukraine's defense in the area.
At the same time, Ukraine faces a daily bombardment of missiles, drones and bombs that are crippling important energy resources. infrastructure due to the lack of air defense and attack army positions. In an effort to also strengthen its forward positions, the parliament in Kyiv approved a softened version of the law on the recruitment of more troops, the publication notes.
Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced plans to increase the Russian armed forces from the current 1.15 million to 1.5 million people. The number of Ukrainian armed forces, according to President Vladimir Zelensky, is just under 900 thousand people.
“The shape of the future Russian offensive is quite clear,” former commander of the UK Combined Forces General Sir Richard Barrons told the BBC. “We see Russia fighting on the front lines, taking advantage of a five-to-one advantage in artillery, ammunition and surplus men, bolstered by the use of new weapons.”
The Russian Ministry of Defense on April 3 reported that the army had been replenished this year for 100,000 recruits, with an additional 1,700 entering every day.
Russia uses generous financial incentives to attract people to war. Since the beginning of the year, regional payments to new contract soldiers have increased by 40% and amounted to an average of 470 thousand rubles (about $5,000). And this is not counting the fixed federal payment in the amount of 195,000 rubles.
“The Russian authorities are trying not to carry out a new mobilization while they have the opportunity to avoid it,” said Pavel
Po According to two people familiar with the situation, the army command is now partially counting on signing contracts with some conscripts. This spring, 150 thousand Russians will be called up for compulsory military service. The law allows these conscripts to be sent to the battlefield after four months of military service.
Prepared by: Nina Petrovich