The Kremlin's formidable strategy for recruiting soldiers

According to Ukrainian military intelligence, there are currently 620,000 Russian soldiers operating on Ukrainian territory and in the Kursk oblast.

This represents an increase of 40,000 men compared to the end of 2024. In an interview published on social media networks, Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, deputy head of Ukraine's Main Directorate of Military Intelligence (GUR), said: "More than 200,000 assault units are taking part in hostilities and are on the front line. In addition, there are 35,000 Russian Guard troops providing reinforcements to the occupying authorities."

On 3 March 2025, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) pointed out that the Russian authorities had far exceeded their recruitment quotas in 2024 and January 2025, reports L'Indépendant. In particular, it was thanks to "increased financial incentives for recruits and recruitment efforts in prisons, which are not, however, sustainable in the medium and long term".

Bonus and prison

In 2024, 440,000 additional soldiers were recruited, 10,000 more than the previous year. These new recruits benefited from an increase in the bonus awarded by the Russian authorities to volunteers. In July 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree awarding 400,000 roubles (nearly €4257) to anyone signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defence between 1 August 2024 and 31 December 2024, more than double the previous federal reward, according to L'Indépendant.

Another reason for the increase in the number of soldiers on the battlefield? Prisons. According to Vadym Skibitskyi, 15% of Russian servicemen recruited in 2024 were "people under criminal investigation". And according to GUR estimates, this figure will rise to around 30% this year.

The Ukrainian intelligence services also believe that these recruitment quotas have been raised to compensate for "the highest casualty rates Russia has seen since the beginning of 2022".