Russia's Recruitment Methods Are Becoming More Brutal

Key Points:

• Russian authorities in smaller cities and towns are reportedly detaining men of fighting age during street checks or at police stations, then pressuring them to sign military contracts through threats or physical abuse, as Moscow struggles to replenish forces in Ukraine.
• These tactics resemble the 2022 partial mobilization, with local officials allegedly offering bounties for delivering men to recruitment centers, despite denials and warnings from the Defense Ministry against sharing videos of such raids.
• Rising Russian casualties, estimated at 30,000 to 40,000 monthly, have prompted harsher recruitment measures, including targeting university students for one-year military contracts as drone operators, though critics highlight the lack of deployment guarantees and open-ended contract terms.
• The situation has led to increased resistance among some Russians, with reports of attacks on enlistment officers and individuals expressing intent to resist or retaliate against forced mobilization efforts.