According to UK Intelligence, Russia hires immigrants from Central Asia to make up for wartime losses

According to British intelligence, Russia is recruiting migrants from Central Asia and neighbouring countries to be soldiers for its war against Ukraine. The Defence Ministry said on Sunday in its latest intelligence update, “There are at least 6 million migrants from Central Asia, which the Kremlin likely sees as potential recruits.”

Russia’s goal is to avoid another unpopular general mobilisation before presidential elections next year, the ministry said. This move “allows the Kremlin to acquire additional personnel for its war effort in the face of mounting casualties” and “avoid further unpopular domestic mobilization measures in the run-up to the 2024 presidential elections,” according to the Ministry.

In September 2022, President Vladimir Putin ordered the “partial mobilisation” of 300,000 reservists, which led tens of thousands of others to leave to avoid being called up to serve. There is no need for greater mobilization, according to Putin.

“Exploiting foreign nationals allows the Kremlin to acquire additional personnel for its war effort in the face of increasing losses,” the British Ministry of Defence statement said.

Beginning at the end of June, Russia advertised job openings in nearby nations like Kazakhstan and Armenia, offering prospective employees a beginning salary of 190,000 roubles per month and an initial payment of 495,000 roubles ($5,130). This is considerably more than the national median wage. Central Asian migrants have reportedly been recruited in since at least May 2023, with promises of high wages and expedited citizenship, according to the ministry.

The British Ministry of Defence releases daily updates on the progress of the Russian war in Ukraine since the start of the conflict, which has been chastised by Moscow accusing London of spreading disinformation.

Previously, the UK Ministry of Defence voiced the opinion that as long as the battle rages on the Orikhiv front, the Federation runs the risk of splintering its forces by investing resources in the region near Kupiansk.

Russia keeps up its hiring drive

According to a report, Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president, claimed on Sunday that Moscow has enlisted some 280,000 people in the armed forces this year.

The report according to the Tass news agency, Medvedev, the deputy chair of the Russian Security Council said, “ According to data from the Ministry of Defence, 280,000 people have joined the Russian army on contracts from January 1.” “Part of them were in the reserves, part of them volunteers and other categories,” he added, during a visit to the Far Eastern Russian island of Sakhalin.

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