Number of residents from occupied territories joining Russian army since beginning of year revealed
Photo: It has become known how many residents of the occupied territories of Ukraine have been mobilized by Russia since the beginning of the year (Getty Images)
In the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, Russian forces have been actively mobilizing the local population. Since the beginning of this year, approximately 7,000 individuals from these areas have already signed contracts with the Russian military, according to the National Resistance Center of Ukraine (NRC).
According to reports, Russian forces are maintaining a steady pace of recruitment from the residents in eastern and southern Ukraine, seeking to enlist them into the ranks of the Russian army.
It was also noted that Russian forces and the occupation administrations plan to further increase mobilization rates in the territories they control.
The NRC emphasized that the primary and sole reason for the involvement of residents from these occupied territories in the Russian army is the high unemployment rate and difficult economic conditions.
“The second reason is due to Russia’s aggressive disinformation campaign against Ukraine,” the NRC added.
Russian forces are reportedly attempting to bribe residents of the occupied territories to join the Russian Armed Forces, offering promises of land plots in exchange.
Earlier in September, partisans from the Atesh movement observed an intensification of mobilization efforts in Russia's Samara region. Representatives of the Ukrainian movement revealed that men are being mass-deployed to participate in combat operations in the Kursk region.
In August, Bloomberg reported that Moscow might announce a new wave of mobilization due to a shortage of soldiers in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces are conducting operations.
It was also reported that in September, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an increase in the size of the military to 2.389 million personnel. The number of active-duty servicemembers has now risen to 1.5 million.
A military expert explained to RBC-Ukraine why Putin decided to take this step.
