Why Russia lost its advantage at the front, how sharply the flow of recruits fell,...

Why Russia lost its advantage at the front, how sharply the flow of recruits has fallen, will there be a new mobilization? — We answer together with Important Stories

Russian authorities are already openly acknowledging failures at the front and problems with recruitment. And they are looking for solutions, among them a possible new wave of mobilization. We studied closed statistics, spoke with sources close to the Presidential Administration and the security bloc, and found out:

🟪 The flow of new contract soldiers has collapsed across the country. For example, in Moscow this spring, the pace of recruitment fell by a third. Across the country — by a quarter. Sources in at least four regions of the country are talking about problems.

🟪 The quality of recruits is also declining. New contract soldiers who came in 2026, according to military personnel interviewed by Verstka, are mostly “incapable of fighting.”

“Some are taken from prison, some from the street. Homeless people in the literal sense of the word. Criminals, and already at such an age and with such illnesses that they can barely stand.”

🟪 To somehow turn the situation around, the authorities are increasing referral payments to recruiters, luring people into contracts with offers to “sit it out in the rear,” and sending agitation brigades around the country’s regions.

🟪 More radical measures are also being discussed — rotation of reservists or a new wave of mobilization. Eight sources of Verstka and Important Stories spoke about such rumors and discussions.

“Starting in October, the military will be ready to take tens of thousands of people for accelerated training at training grounds and distribute them to active forces in such batches. From beyond the line, they constantly complain about an acute shortage of people; they will have to hurry to meet the needs.”

Read the article on Verstka’s website (with a VPN):

Link not working? Read here.

😘 Subscribe to @svobodnieslova and support Verstka — it matters

Verstka

“The fools willing to go for money have run out”: how Russian authorities are trying to solve the shortage of contract soldiers

Different scenarios are being discussed — up to the rotation of reservists and mobilization