December 12, 2024

Fewer Russians Willing to Join the Front


Fewer Russians Willing to Join the Front
An 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade artillery exercise.  Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation, Wikimedia Commons.

According to an analysis of federal budget data by journalists from the independent publication Meduza, the stream of new contract soldiers into the Russian army has sharply declined. The report reveals a significant drop in the number of new contracts signed: from 93,000 in the second quarter of 2024 to approximately 50,000 in the third quarter.

Janis Kluge, a senior associate at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin, corroborated these findings. His calculations imply that Russian authorities recruited an average of about 700 new contract soldiers per day during the third quarter, down from 1,020 per day in the second quarter.

Meanwhile, Russian army losses have reached unprecedented levels in the country's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In November 2024, British intelligence estimated Russian casualties at 1,500 personnel per day, including 300 fatalities. According to Meduza, irretrievable losses — which include fatalities and severely wounded soldiers unable to return to duty — range from 600 to 750 per day. These figures barely cover ongoing losses and hinder the military’s ability to build significant reserves.

The decline in enlistment comes despite a doubling of the signing bonuses for contractees. Experts suggest the drop may stem from mounting casualties and the exhaustion of the pool of individuals willing to risk their lives for financial incentives.

You Might Also Like

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

The Moscow Eccentric
December 01, 2016

The Moscow Eccentric

Advance reviewers are calling this new translation "a coup" and "a remarkable achievement." This rediscovered gem of a novel by one of Russia's finest writers explores some of the thorniest issues of the early twentieth century.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

93 Untranslatable Russian Words
December 01, 2008

93 Untranslatable Russian Words

Every language has concepts, ideas, words and idioms that are nearly impossible to translate into another language. This book looks at nearly 100 such Russian words and offers paths to their understanding and translation by way of examples from literature and everyday life. Difficult to translate words and concepts are introduced with dictionary definitions, then elucidated with citations from literature, speech and prose, helping the student of Russian comprehend the word/concept in context.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955