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Putin’s Desperate Hunt for Recruits Hits Sickening New Low
The Daily Beast • • world
Key Points:
- Russian recruiters are reportedly using deceptive and coercive tactics to enlist vulnerable men, including those suffering from health issues and addiction, to fight in Ukraine, according to CNN and human rights groups.
- Cases include men tricked into signing enlistment papers or taken while intoxicated, with some later reported missing in action on the battlefield.
- These covert recruitment methods appear aimed at avoiding another politically damaging nationwide mobilization after the 2022 mass call-up led to widespread panic and mass emigration.
- Financial incentives have been introduced for recruiters to enlist new soldiers, effectively turning them into bounty hunters, with payments ranging from $590 to $3,500 per enlistment in some regions.
- The developments coincide with a warming relationship between Putin and former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently agreed to purchase large quantities of Russian diesel amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
