Russia launches national recruitment drive for additional troops amid war in Ukraine: ISW

Amid raging war between Moscow and Kyiv in Eastern Europe, Institute for Study of War (ISW), a US-based think tank, stated that Russia has started a national recruitment drive for more troops. In its latest war report, ISW claimed that development comes in wake of Russia's failures in Ukraine's Kharkiv region. It furr stated that Russia's position in region has "certainly weakened" as a result of draining of a significant portion of forces initially stationed re. 

"This recruitment revamp is likely to secure more support for Kremlin among nationalist figures who are increasingly critical of Russian Ministry of Defence, even if drive does not generate large numbers of combat-effective troops," ISW said in a statement. According to ISW, Kremlin's efforts to protect select federal subjects from recruiting drives have probably been abandoned, which could intensify social tensions. Earlier, ISW claimed that Kremlin me an effort to prevent Moscow City residents from learning about creation of volunteer regiment known as "Sobyaninsky Polk" with hequarters in Moscow.

ISW report noted that Russia is responding to Ukraine's retaliation in Kharkiv Oblast by intensifying "crypto-mobilization" inste of creating circumstances for widespre mobilisation. Meanwhile, Chechen leer Ramzan Kyrov, a staunch ally of Russian President Vlimir Putin, urged all federal subjects to begin "self-mobilization" and not wait for Kremlin to impose martial law. Kyrov stressed that rar than making speeches and holding "pointless public events", each federal subject must demonstrate its willingness to aid Russia by recruiting at least 1,000 servicemen. 

Russian President signs decree to raise strength of country's Armed Forces

In late August, Russian President Putin signed a decree to raise staff strength of country's Armed Forces from 1,37,000 servicemen, bringing ir total number to 1.5 million (1,150,628). According to previous decree signed in 2017, authorised strength of Russian Armed Forces was 1,902,758, including 1,013,628 soldiers. According to reports, relevant documents related to latest decree were published on portal of legal information. This comes as war between Russia and Ukraine continues unabated for more than six months now, with no sign of ending anytime soon. 

Image: AP