Russian Troops Suffering Losses "Recruiting Volunteers Up to Age 60"

by Kim Yuri

Published 05 Apr.2022 19:45(KST)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

As the invasion of Ukraine surpasses six weeks and Russian forces suffer severe personnel losses, the British newspaper The Times reported on the 5th (local time), citing Russian local media, that the Russian military is recruiting volunteer enlistees even up to the age of 60.

According to the report, the Russian military is pushing for the re-enlistment of reservists close to the civilian retirement age in two Siberian cities, Chelyabinsk and Tyumen. They hope to attract many applicants for military specialties such as tank commanders, snipers, and engineers. Those who sign contracts for re-enlistment will join about 60,000 recently mobilized reservists. In addition, the Russian military has recruited 134,500 new soldiers.

Among Russian forces, conscripts make up about one-quarter of the troops and are typically males aged between 18 and 27 who serve for one year. Defense experts have pointed out that deploying inexperienced teenage soldiers to the Ukrainian battlefield is tantamount to leading them to a "slaughterhouse." In this regard, the Kremlin has stated that new recruits will not be sent to combat zones.

The personnel losses suffered by the Russian military in Ukraine have been estimated at 15,000 by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and 18,300 by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, respectively.