Russia is finding it increasingly difficult to recruit new troops for the war against Ukraine — CNN

Russia is facing growing challenges in attracting new soldiers for its war against Ukraine. Despite offering multimillion-ruble bonuses and debt forgiveness, the number of volunteers willing to join the military continues to decline, CNN reports, according to UATV English.

According to the report, Moscow is resorting to increasingly desperate measures to maintain troop numbers, and Russian President Vladimir Putin may be forced to make more unpopular decisions this year if he intends to continue the war.

Russia has already sent tens of thousands of former prisoners to the front lines, supplemented by three separate waves of North Korean troops and foreign mercenaries who were financially incentivized to join the Russian military.

Russian authorities are advertising enlistment packages worth up to $80,000, along with debt write-offs of up to $140,000 for signing a military contract. Recruitment campaigns rely on billboards, social media, and even promises of Russian citizenship.

Despite these efforts, recruitment has reportedly fallen by 20% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025.

Analysts do not rule out the possibility of a second wave of compulsory mobilization, potentially accompanied by new travel restrictions for military-age men. Russia’s first mobilization campaign in 2022 proved deeply unpopular and prompted hundreds of thousands of Russians to leave the country.

At the same time, the Russian economy is increasingly suffering from a shortage of male workers.

“The entire Russian economy is suffering from the most acute labor shortage in its history,” said Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

The outflow of men to the military has created shortages in the civilian workforce as well. Defense-industry factories are operating around the clock and have reportedly reached maximum capacity. While wages continue to rise, they are failing to keep pace with inflation.

According to some Western intelligence assessments, approximately 500,000 Russian military personnel have been killed since the start of the war. Russia’s monthly casualties are estimated at between 30,000 and 35,000 personnel.

“This year, in particular, we are seeing economic costs finally begin to impose difficult trade-offs on the Kremlin,” said Maria Snegovaya, an expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

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