Part 9/11:
To address this crippling manpower shortfall, the Kremlin has turned to foreign mercenaries and even criminals to bolster its ranks. Reports indicate that Russia is actively recruiting mercenaries from nations like China, offering financial incentives to attract fighters. Further legislative changes in 2024 have allowed criminals facing punishment the option to trade their sentences for military service, ostensibly to fill an urgent need for boots on the ground.
Despite these efforts, estimates suggest recruitment cannot keep pace, with figures showing that only 130,000 to 360,000 new troops per year can be expected. These numbers fall significantly short of Russia's projected losses, indicating a looming manpower crisis.