Russia has reported a significant increase in the number of men signing contracts to join the military following a deadly attack on a concert hall near Moscow, killing at least 144 people. The attack took place on March 22, 2024, and Russia has blamed Ukraine for the incident, despite denials from Kyiv and a claim of responsibility by Islamic State militants. The Russian defense ministry stated that over 100,000 people have signed contracts with the armed forces since the start of the year, with about 16,000 in the past 10 days alone. Many candidates cited the desire to avenge the victims of the tragedy as the main motive for enlisting.
President Vladimir Putin and his security chiefs have accused Ukraine of being behind the attack, despite not providing evidence. Kyiv has denied these claims, and the United States has stated that Islamic State was solely responsible for the massacre. However, if Russia were to accept this, it would raise questions about why they did not act on intelligence warnings from the U.S. about the impending attack. Russia is now relying on new recruits to the armed forces as it continues its push into Ukrainian territory, following a draft of 300,000 men in September 2022. Recruits are attracted by higher salaries and the portrayal of soldiers fighting in Ukraine as heroes and patriots.
The recruitment boost comes as Russia continues to advance in Ukraine after launching a full-scale invasion in February 2022. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced plans to add two new armies and 30 new formations by the end of the year. Both sides have suffered heavy casualties, with an estimated 75,000 Russians killed in Ukraine by late 2023. Russia has a larger population to draw recruits from compared to Ukraine, giving them an advantage in the ongoing conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy recently signed a law to lower the mobilisation age for combat duty in order to increase fighting power.
Russia has detained suspects in the Caucasus linked to the Moscow terror attack, according to the security agency. The increase in recruitment to the armed forces is seen as a response to the attack, with many recruits citing a desire to avenge the victims as the main motivation. The attack at the concert hall near Moscow has fuelled tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides continuing to blame each other for the incident. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has led to high casualties on both sides, with Russia looking to bolster its military strength as it continues its advance into Ukrainian territory.
