Russia struggles to recruit soldiers due to losses, low pay – HUR
Problems with recruiting contract soldiers for the Russian army are observed primarily in the poorest regions, according to Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate. (Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense / Telegram)
Russia is struggling to recruit contract soldiers for its invasion army, particularly in the poorest regions including the Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Ukraine's Defense Intelligence (HUR) reported on Telegram on Oct. 22.
According to internal documents from Russia's Defense Ministry, the low selection rates stem from insufficient regional payments and local authorities' reluctance to support the recruitment drive.
Ukrainian intelligence said the average shortfall at Yakutia's selection points stands at about 40% of the quotas set by the Kremlin.
An additional factor in the failure is heavy losses among the local population, especially from certain ethnic groups — Yakuts, Evenks and Evens.
A similar situation is observed in other Far Eastern regions of Russia, the HUR added.
On Sept. 29, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a decree on conducting the fall conscription for military service in 2025.
The draft campaign runs from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31. Russia plans to conscript 135,000 men aged 18 to 30 who are not in the reserves.
Ukraine’s spy chief Kyrylo Budanov has said Russia is capable of declaring another conscription campaign, posing a real threat. He recalled that Moscow held a partial conscription campaign in 2022, after which it did everything possible to avoid repeating such a step.
On Oct. 14, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported that the Kremlin is preparing to lift some restrictions on using Russian reservists in combat, effectively allowing Russia to employ reservists in the war against Ukraine without formal conscription.
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