Putin drafts in tens of thousands after losing over 70,000 soldiers between May and June

Vladimir Putin has been forced to draft a further 150,000 soldiers after losing more than 70,000 troops were either killed or wounded.

Putin has been hit with a recruitment crisis as more than 650,000 Russians have fled Russia to Kazakhstan, Georgia, Israel or Armenia since the war started in 2022.

A new report shows that around 344,000 Russians have emigrated to the four countries to escape mandatory conscription.

According to the Russian opposition outlet the Bell Russian citizens have also fled in their thousands to Serbia, Spain, Turkey and Germany to escape the war in Ukraine.

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The Institute for the Study of War said the “permanent loss of this population will continue to impact Russia’s economy” as wealthier Russians are leaving en masse.

GB News reported, the University of Bath’s Dr Stephen Hall wrote for the Henry Jackson Society, “Leaving Russians to deal with the Putinist system alone is not an option. Russia is not going to go away.

“Whether we like it or not Russia is here to stay. Western governments must support the Russian diaspora in developing a plan for a democratic future-Russia.”

Speaking of the drafting of thousands of Russians, the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement, “The spring 2024 conscription of citizens for military service is completed.

“In compliance with Decree No. 222 issued by the president of the Russian Federation on March 31, 2024, 150,000 people were recruited and sent to the Russian Armed Forces and other military formations for military service in the spring of this year.”

Ukraine telegram channel Pravda Gerashchenko said in March, “It was possible to achieve such a quantity of fresh ‘cannon fodder’ thanks to an amendment to raise the conscription age. Russians aged 18 to 30 will serve.”