Russia 'shooting itself in the foot' as Putin hires 'sick' and 'slow' soldiers for Ukraine
Vladimir Putin's army has paid a massive price for its gains in Ukraine, sustaining 600,000 casualties during the course of the war, according to US officials.
Vladimir Putin's army is being forced to recruit older "sick" men in a desperate attempt to replenish its depleted frontline forces.
Russia continues to make ground in Ukraine's Donbas region, as it takes full advantage of its superiority in both manpower and weapons.
Ukrainian soldiers say that in some places on the front, they are outnumbered by seven-to-one, as well as being outgunned.
In recent days, the Kremlin's forces have captured Vuhledar and are reported to have entered the city of Toretsk.
Yet Putin's army has paid a massive price for its gains, sustaining 600,000 casualties during the course of the war, according to US officials.
The Kremlin has tried to avoid nationwide conscription, fearing this may provoke serious social unrest.
Instead, they have tried to lure recruits by offering contracts with higher-than-normal wages and generous other social benefits.
This has enabled Putin's generals to deliver a regular supply of fresh blood for its battered military units.
However, the supply of younger men appears to be drying up, forcing the Russian army to turn to older and less healthy recruits.
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Volunteer fighters aged 45 and over now make up half of the new recruits in Moscow, a senior source from the Mayor's office told the independent Russian investigative site Vyorstka.
Another official claimed that the average age of recruits has risen from 40 at the start of the year to about 50.
“They’re all sick,” a Russian soldier fighting in Ukraine was quoted as saying of the new troops.
“Their legs hurt, their heads hurt, and they’re slow.”
Ilya Ponomarev, a leading Russian opposition figure, told the Express that the army had been recruiting men from isolated and economically depressed regions, by offering them big financial incentives.
Average wages in these regions vary between US$200 (£158) and US$300 (£237), less than half the average monthly salary of US$1000 (£790).
The Kremlin is offering young men from these areas as much as US$2,000 (£1,581) a month if they agree to sign up.
In addition, if they are killed then their families stand to receive up to US$100,000 (£79,000) in compensation payments.
