New recruits for Russia's war in Ukraine will have debts up to 10 million rubles canceled under a presidential decree. Another new law reportedly foresees the use of Russian armed forces to protect citizens abroad.
Despite this, Russian authorities continue to officially claim stable recruitment figures of 400,000–500,000 contract soldiers annually. However, independent estimates based on an analysis of budget expenditures show a more modest trend.
Study: Recruitment Rates for Russian Armed Forces Fell by 20% in First Quarter of 2026