- Russia is suffering from “serious labor shortages” in Ukraine, a US official told Portal.
- The official said there was credible evidence that Russia would soon be recruiting convicted criminals.
- Officials in St. Petersburg have already attempted to recruit homeless people, Newsweek reported.
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The Russian military is reportedly recruiting soldiers from homeless shelters and is seriously considering recruiting convicted criminals to fight against Ukraine.
A US official, who spoke to Portal on condition of anonymity, said on Wednesday that Intel suggests Russia is suffering from “serious labor shortages” in Ukraine.
Moscow has not publicly announced how many Russian soldiers died during the unprovoked invasion since March 25, but unconfirmed estimates range from 15,000 to 49,000 soldiers killed.
Last Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree increasing Russia’s armed forces from 1.9 million to 2.04 million, according to Portal. And it seems to reach this number, and to recoup losses on the battlefield, Russia uses unconventional recruiting tactics.
The US official, citing intelligence agencies, told Portal that “credible” evidence suggests the Russian Defense Ministry is likely to start recruiting convicted criminals in Ukraine to bolster the army.
The criminals would be offered pardons and financial compensation in exchange for fighting for Russia, the official said, according to Portal.
The official also told Portal that Intel is proposing that Russia’s defense ministry seek contract service workers to fill the shortage by “forcing wounded soldiers to rejoin combat, acquiring personnel from private security companies, and paying conscript bonuses.”
According to Newsweek, officials in St. Petersburg left fliers about contract services at a homeless shelter as part of the recruitment drive.
Homeless charity Nochlezhka told Newsweek that officials at the Frunzensky district administration in St. Petersburg visited one of its shelters on Aug. 17 to speak with people living there about signing up for the fight.
A spokesman for the charity told Newsweek that an officer on duty at the shelter informed officials that this was not allowed and asked them to leave the shelter.
“Nochlezhka is not willing to mediate in this campaign. Therefore, we informed them that they cannot distribute their materials,” the spokesman said. “Then they left our accommodation.”