The UK Defence Intelligence update for the 8 May 2023 has revealed that Russian military recruiters have been actively targeting central Asian migrant workers in Russia to serve in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
According to the report, these recruiters have visited mosques and immigration offices in search of potential recruits.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 8 May 2023.
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At the immigration offices, staff fluent in Tajik and Uzbek have routinely attempted to recruit migrants.
Financial Incentives and Fast-Track Citizenship
Radio Free Europe reported that recruiters have offered sign-up bonuses of USD $2,390 and salaries of up to USD $4,160 a month to entice migrants to enlist. Additionally, these migrants have been promised a fast-track Russian citizenship path of six months to one year, instead of the usual five years. The high monthly salary and sign-up bonuses are expected to persuade some migrant workers to sign up.
Deployed to High-Casualty Frontlines
It is believed that these newly recruited migrants are likely to be sent to the Ukrainian frontlines, where the casualty rate is extremely high. This recruitment effort is part of the Russian Ministry of Defence’s attempts to fulfil its target of 400,000 volunteers to fight in Ukraine.
Delaying Mandatory Mobilisation
The authorities are “almost certainly seeking to delay any new overt mandatory mobilisation for as long as possible to minimise domestic dissent,” according to the Defence Intelligence update. By recruiting migrants, Russia aims to lessen the burden on its citizens and reduce the risk of internal opposition to the conflict in Ukraine.
Well I suppose they can promise high monthly salaries because they know full well most of them won’t be alive to collect!
More cannon fodder.
I guess, if the volunteers last a month, then at least their families could get $6,500 in total. Big bucks for a Tajik family. That’s if the Russian army is honest with them. Yeah, right…
Interesting snippets culled from OSINT:-
Ukraine has had to upgrade the software on their HIMARS systems as the Russians have learned to jam them. Also the JDAMS and other guided bombs. Russian partizans are believed to be operating behind the lines searching for Zhitel R-330Zh mobile jamming stations deployed in camuflaged trucks with large aerials
Air defenses in Central Russia are being bolstered, especially in the Moscow direction. An S-400 missile convoy with Pantsir missile & AA artillery complexes were seen on the move in the Tula area 150km S of Moscow heading N
Other partizan attacks behind the lines include
April 29, occupied Crimea – explosion at the peninsula’s largest oil terminal
May 3 – drones targeted the Taman complex for transhipment of liquefied gas and petroleum products – which is the largest oil hub in the Black Sea region
May 4 and 5, 50 km E of Krasnodar – Major fire at the Llsky oil refinery which has a declared capacity of 1 million tons and which burned for days after alleged drone attacks over two days and nights
Lastly, China has made a “first step” that could help the West put pressureon Putin by backing a UN resolution that described Russia as the “aggressor”
Thanks David.
JDAM and HIMARS have inertial navigation, there is no GPS receiver required and no jamming possible if they are used correctly.
This is an interesting subject, seeing as a few of the former Russian states:
Uzbekistan,
Kyrgyzstan
Tajikistan
Have not only taken in hundreds of thousands of Russians fleeing conscription back home , they have publicly informed their citizens not to enrol and fight for Moscow in the Ukraine and whilst the money may appear good, I’ll put money on the table that the dragging out of what should have been a very one-sided contest , with virtually (from all sides) daily negative reporting regards the fighting conditions for Russian soldiers , has had an effect on the people thinking of signing up for Putins ruble . In response Moscow hit back with the citizens of the above states who had gained a Russian passport who refused to fight for Moscow (in the Ukraine) would lose their Russian citizenship. At a stroke sending the message to people who have gained Russian citizenship, that actually we don’t see you as our equals.
But where it becomes interesting is there is already talk of these states looking at leaving the union with Moscow and going it alone .
Meaning that in a move to go down in history as the man who solidified and strengthened Moscow’s position on the worlds stage, it appears that Putin will be remembered as the architect who dismembered it.
“…Putin will be remembered as the architect who dismembered it”. – and who wanted a smaller NATO and got a bigger one.
That sounds like a new version of Russian Roulette. Astonished the Red Square parade ws a single T-34. Even Russians realise Putin veiws them as cannon fodder for his imperial ambitions. I hope te damage being inflicted on Rusia for generations to come is not lost on the CCP.
Just thinking about this issue. How many migrants actually think I know I’m going to leave my rubbish crappy dangerous country to go and live in……another rubbish, crappy dangerous country where the chances of getting killed or maimed are higher than if I just stayed where I was.
I cant see many migrants going to Russia myself.