Russian passport as an incentive
Putin attracts new mercenaries to the army
January 4, 2024, 3:25 p.m
The Russian army has suffered massive losses since the beginning of the war. Before the presidential election, however, President Putin decided not to make the unpopular decision to start a new mobilization. Instead, he wants to attract foreign fighters – and later naturalize them.
Foreigners fighting for Russia in Ukraine should be able to receive Russian citizenship in the future. President Vladimir Putin signed a corresponding decree. The families of the fighters – spouses, children and parents – should also be given this opportunity. The opportunity should apply to foreigners who have fought alongside the Russian armed forces for at least a year.
Persons who have reported to other “military formations” outside the Russian military, such as members of the Wagner mercenary force, are also eligible. Observers see the move as an attempt to make deployment alongside Russia in the war of aggression against Ukraine more attractive. The government in Moscow has not yet published figures on foreign fighters.
According to Reuters information, Cubans have volunteered for Russian military operations and are receiving bonuses that are more than 100 times higher than the average wage in the communist country. Reuters had learned from US intelligence circles that 315,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured in the war so far. In September 2022, around six months after the invasion began, Russia recruited an additional 300,000 men in a partial mobilization.
Speculation that such a step could be repeated continues to persist. However, Putin is likely to avoid such an unpopular measure until the presidential election in March, in which he will run again.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine have yet published official figures on casualties in the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said last month that the military wanted to recruit 450,000 to 500,000 more people.