210,000 Russians Enlist for War in Ukraine, Russia Reports
Dmitry Medvedev, a senior Russian official, announced that over 210,000 Russians have signed contracts to fight in Ukraine between January and July 2025. This figure includes both regular enlistments and volunteer units. Medvedev praised the recruitment pace as ‘quite decent, good,’ and expressed hope that the momentum would continue. Additionally, around 18,000 individuals have joined volunteer units, bringing the total to 228,000. The figures come as Russia escalates its war efforts amid international calls for a ceasefire.
According to Western and Ukrainian intelligence, Russian forces recruit 30,000 to 45,000 new troops monthly—nearly twice the rate of Ukraine’s mobilization, which President Volodymyr Zelensky said stands at 25,000 to 27,000 troops per month. Ukraine estimates that Russia has suffered nearly 1 million casualties since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. However, Moscow has offset its losses through aggressive recruitment and a steady influx of contract soldiers.
In late 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree increasing the size of the Armed Forces to 2.38 million personnel, including 1.5 million military service members. Russia also launched its largest conscription drive in 14 years, aiming to enroll 160,000 men for mandatory service. The country holds two annual conscription campaigns, in spring and fall, requiring one year of service from eligible men.
While conscripts are not typically deployed to combat zones, the Kremlin has leaned on financial incentives and promises of pardons to recruit civilians and former inmates for its war. Following the deeply unpopular partial mobilization of September 2022, which triggered an exodus of over 261,000 Russians, Moscow has avoided mass drafts, relying instead on contract-based service.