In Moscow, the number of people willing to fight has decreased fivefold

Currently, the Russian army mainly recruits foreigners from Africa, China, and Asia who are looking to earn money, as well as people under investigation or involved in criminal and administrative cases.

Moscow military enlistment offices have recorded a sharp decline in interest in signing a contract to participate in the war against Ukraine. After the increase in one-time payments and the start of the Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive in Kursk in August 2023, the flow of recruits increased, but this effect quickly faded away. This was reported by Russian media on Wednesday, January 29.

Currently, the Russian army mainly recruits foreigners from Africa, China, and Asia who are looking to earn money, as well as people under investigation or involved in criminal and administrative cases.

According to a source in the Moscow City Hall, an average of 40 people per day are currently signing contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense, which is five times less than in late summer and autumn, when this figure reached 200–250 people per day.

The composition of recruits has also changed: half of the new recruits are foreigners and Russian citizens with criminal records, debts, or administrative cases. The number of Russian volunteers has decreased, and on some days their share drops to a third.