A statistical analysis by the independent Russian media outlet Mediazona shows that around 492,000 men could have been drafted into the army after Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced the “partial mobilization” of 300,000 men on September 21, the Kyiv Independent quoted.

Mobilization of reservists in Irkutsk, RussiaPhoto: Kyrylo Shipitsyn / Sputnik / Profimedia

Mediazona’s estimate was extrapolated from the explosion in registered marriages, as recruited men can register in a day instead of waiting a month as usual.

Numerous videos with mass weddings of conscripts and their partners all over Russia have appeared on the Internet.

Mediazona counted the number of registered weddings in 75 regions, comparing that number with the percentage of unmarried couples to get the proportion mobilized, resulting in a final estimate of 492,000 across the country.

On October 14, Putin announced that this campaign of “partial mobilization” of Russia would end in two weeks. The 300,000 figure was met with skepticism from the start, with the liberal Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta reporting on September 22 that the real target was one million.

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