Russia plans to recruit 343,000 more troops for war against Ukraine in 2025, intelligence says
Photo: Russia exceeded its recruitment targets by 107% in January 2025 (Vitalii Nosach RBC-Ukraine)
Russia exceeded its recruitment goals by enlisting 107% more military personnel in January 2025. At the same time, 30% of the new recruits are individuals with criminal convictions, states Deputy Chief of the Defense Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
Russia continues to actively recruit its armed forces, exceeding its recruitment targets. According to Skibitskyi, in January 2025, Russia fulfilled its recruitment plans by 107%. This indicates that the Kremlin has no serious problems with replenishing losses and recruiting troops.
However, Skibitskyi noted that not all of the recruits are volunteers in the traditional sense. Throughout 2025, about 30% of those who volunteer to serve will actually be individuals under investigation or serving conditional sentences.
Previously, this group accounted for only 15%, but now its number is increasing. The Russian army is using a so-called "special contingent," consisting of prisoners and people with no alternative.
Russian army increases recruitment
When discussing plans, it refers to the recruitment of 343,000 contract soldiers. However, based on the experience of 2024, it can be noted that these plans are often adjusted upwards.
Initially, the goal was to recruit around 375,000-380,000 individuals, then the target was increased to 430,000, and in the end, Russia managed to recruit 440,000 contract soldiers.
To encourage service, the Kremlin offers high payments. For a contract, a new recruit can earn more than 2 million rubles, which amounts to between 20,000 and 25,000 dollars, depending on the region.
"As a result, we see that in 2024, the recruitment plan through contract service was not just fulfilled but exceeded by at least 10,000 servicemen," he noted.
However, the largest portion of the contingent is still focused on replenishing combat losses. Along with replenishing losses, Russia also plans to form new units and formations in the Moscow, Leningrad, Southern, and Central military districts. Brigades involved in combat operations will be reinforced to the level of divisions, which will provide additional forces for the front.
"This is the reinforcement of a brigade to the size of a division. It is also expected that these measures will involve personnel who will sign contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense," Skibitskyi emphasized.
It is worth noting that the size of the Russian ground forces involved in the war against Ukraine is approximately 620,000 individuals.
This includes more than 200,000 soldiers who are part of assault units and are directly involved in combat operations at the front.
