• Russia has recruited between 280,000 and 330,000 contract soldiers in 2025, with Deputy Security Council Chair Dmitry Medvedev citing the higher figure.
  • The recruitment drive is fueled by massive financial incentives, with signing bonuses reaching 1.5-2 million rubles (approximately $25,000), far exceeding average wages.
  • Russia is spending an estimated 6.3% of its GDP on defense, with over $25 billion allocated for personnel payments in the first half of 2025 alone.

Russia's military has recruited approximately 330,000 contract soldiers so far in 2025, according to a statement from Deputy Chair of Russia's Security Council Dmitry Medvedev. The figure, cited by the senior official, confirms an aggressive expansion of defense recruitment efforts aimed at replenishing troop levels amid ongoing significant losses in Ukraine.

Ukrainian military intelligence had previously reported about 280,000 new contract soldiers by September, indicating rapid monthly growth that suggests Russia could meet or surpass its annual target of 343,000 recruits. The recruitment acceleration comes as Russia seeks to avoid the politically unpopular full mobilization seen in 2022.

Financial incentives are driving the surge, with signing bonuses of 1.5 to 2 million rubles proving substantially more attractive than the national average wage. The government has raised both federal and regional sign-up bonuses, though some regions saw these payments plateau earlier in the spring before recent increases.

According to people familiar with recruitment efforts, around 25% of new recruits have criminal records or are facing investigation, exploiting legal incentives that allow enlistment to avoid prosecution. This approach, while effective for meeting numerical targets, has raised concerns about the future composition and morale of Russian armed forces.

A bill for year-round conscription was introduced in July to further stabilize recruitment rates, moving away from the traditional bi-annual draft cycle. The legislative change reflects deeper systemic challenges for Russia's defense establishment as the war continues.

Russia's ability to sustain such large recruitment intakes remains uncertain as the pool of willing and able citizens shrinks and economic costs continue to mount. Ukrainian intelligence analysts project potential for another 15-17% target increase in 2026, though experts caution that maintaining current recruitment levels may prove increasingly difficult.

Efforts to reach representatives of Russia's Defense Ministry for comment on the recruitment figures were unsuccessful.