According to Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, there has been a significant increase in the number of men voluntarily enlisting in the Russian military this year.
In a recent statement, Shoigu revealed that more than 335,000 individuals have volunteered for military service since the beginning of the year.
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No plans for further mobilization
Shoigu clarified that there are no plans for additional mobilization in relation to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The statement was made during a televised briefing to top generals and was reported by Reuters.
He emphasized that the military has sufficient personnel to carry out its "special military operation," a term used by Russia to describe the war in Ukraine.
Record numbers in September
The Defense Minister also pointed out that just in September alone, over 50,000 citizens have signed contracts to join the military.
This comes as a relief to many in Russia who had feared another round of forced mobilization, similar to what happened about a year ago when 300,000 individuals were conscripted, causing some controversy and leading to people fleeing the country.
While these figures indicate a high level of participation, it's worth noting that the information has not been independently verified. It's also unclear whether these numbers include forces from the Wagner Group, a private military company.
The high enlistment numbers also highlight the significant impact the conflict has had on the Russian population. At the start of the conflict in February of last year, it's estimated that more than 200,000 Russian soldiers were stationed near the Ukrainian border.
