The Kremlin has indeed announced a significant number of contractor troops since the beginning of the year
Instead of conducting the so-called “partial mobilization,” the Russian Federation used the mechanism of signing contracts, which also allowed for the recruitment of hundreds of thousands of troops.
The Russian Security Council announced the number of racists who signed a contract with the armed forces. These figures were voiced by Dmitry Medvedev, who, in between threats of nuclear weapons on social media, is listed as deputy head of the Russian Security Council.
According to him, from January 1 to August 3, 2023, the number of new contractors in the Russian army is more than 231 thousand people.
It should be reminded that during the so-called “partial mobilization”, which was announced on September 21, 2022 and actively continued until October 28, although it was not officially terminated, about 300 thousand people were mobilized in Russia.
At the same time, such measures caused social tension in Russia, and the Russian Defense Ministry demonstrated its inability to “drive” such a large number of personnel through the training camps and even provide them with clothing.
That is why the Kremlin, at least for now, has decided to abandon such steps. And instead of mobilization, the propaganda of “contract service” was turned on full blast. For this purpose, those wishing to replenish cannon fodder were lured with cash payments and benefits, the procedure was simplified as much as possible and foreigners and conscripts were allowed to sign contracts.
The numbers announced by the Kremlin may look overstated, but according to the General Staff, the number of racists killed from January 1 to August 2 is 141,13 thousand. Taking into account injuries and discharges from the armed forces for other reasons, the number of 231,000 is already perceived differently.
But given the rather rapid and harsh changes in Russian legislation on mobilization and penalties for evading it, there is a very real possibility that the Kremlin is preparing for a tough mobilization and suppression of protests against it.
