About 385,000 people were drafted into the Russian army in 2023, and Moscow intends to continue recruitment in 2024 amid the conflict in Ukraine, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said, saying he was in charge of the issue, AFP reported.

“According to the Ministry of Defense, from January 1 to October 25 this year (…) almost 385,000 people were drafted,” Medvedev said at the meeting. reports Agerpres.

That includes 305,000 people who signed a contract directly with the Defense Department and 80,000 “volunteers,” a term commonly used for those who fight in paramilitary groups like Wagner, he also said.

The former Russian head of state, who has intensified his anti-Western stance and threats since the start of the offensive against Ukraine, is now number two on Russia’s Security Council.

“The strong patriotic spirit and desire of the country’s citizens to defend their Motherland allow us to continue recruitment,” Medvedev said.

A massive campaign to recruit volunteers

According to the former president, Vladimir Putin instructed him to continue building up forces in 2024 by forming a new army corps, seven divisions, 19 brigades, 49 regiments and a fleet.

Having mobilized about 300,000 reservists since September 2022, the Russian authorities, despite significant losses in Ukraine, avoided ordering a new mobilization.

Instead, the Russian army has been running a large-scale voluntary conscription campaign since spring this year, with lots of advertising on the streets and online, promising particularly attractive salaries and social and bank benefits to future soldiers.

According to Ukraine’s estimates, about 400,000 Russian troops are stationed on its territory, occupying part of the east and south of the country.

Read also: The rest of the soldiers lost by Russia at the front in Ukraine is approaching 300 thousand / New analysis confirms the figure, but gives some clarifications

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