What You Need to Know: As Russian casualties in Ukraine surpass 650,000, President Vladimir Putin faces growing pressure to deploy conscripts. Despite these losses, Putin is resisting calls to send conscripts to Ukraine, fearing domestic unrest.

-Conscripts are typically restricted from combat zones, though some have been mistakenly deployed. In Russia’s Kursk Oblast, conscripts are already engaged in defense operations, causing uproar among families.

-To maintain a steady flow of personnel, Russian leadership is pressuring conscripts to sign military contracts after their service. With attrition outpacing recruitment, Russia's personnel losses could soon surpass 750,000, exacerbating concerns over gaps in its military ranks.

Putin Holds Back Conscripts as Russian Military Casualties Soar

The Russian military continues to take heavy losses in the fighting. But despite losing more than 600,000 men, Russian President Vladimir Putin is resisting calls to send conscripts to Ukraine.

A ruthless leader, Putin is looking to stay in power. He does not want to upset Russian society unless he has to. 

Russian Conscripts and the War in Ukraine 

“Russia’s autumn conscription cycle starts on 1 October 2024. All eligible Russian men under the age of 30 are required to serve one year of military service,” British Military Intelligence reported. “To date, conscripts have not been sent to fight in Ukraine. Since the start of the war in February 2022, Russian leaders have stated that conscripts will not be sent to the frontline.” 

However, conscripts have found themselves on the front line sometimes, mostly by mistake. 

When it comes to Russia’s own territory, it is another matter. The Russian military has deployed conscripts to the Kursk Oblast to fight the Ukrainian forces there. Ukrainian units have captured dozens of Russian conscripts, and their appearance on social media has created an uproar in Russia.

“In response, some parents have voiced concerns that their sons have been sent to fight after serving less than four months. Legally, conscripts can serve in a combat zone if they have served four months and have been trained in a relevant specialization,” British Military Intelligence stated. 

“The reaction of families of conscripts to their deployment in the defense of mainland Russia likely reinforces for Russian leaders the sensitivity of deploying conscripts to Ukraine itself,” British Military Intelligence assessed. 

Putin has been very careful not to upset Russian society. The Kremlin has been trying to use men from low-income and immigrant backgrounds. Moscow has also recruited tens of thousands of convicts to fight in Ukraine. 

“However, Russia will likely continue to force conscripts to sign contracts following their completion of service to ensure a steady supply of personnel for the war amid high attrition rates,” British Military Intelligence concluded.

As we have previously stated here at The National Interest, Russian forces are taking very high casualties on a daily basis. Indeed, over the past 120 days, the Russian military has been losing more than 1,000 men every day in the fighting. Moreover, the Kremlin is currently recruiting fewer men than it loses, and that can soon create gaps on the line. 

Russian Casualties in Ukraine - Update

Over the past 24 hours, the Russian military, paramilitary forces, and pro-Russian separatist units lost approximately 1,370 men killed, wounded, and captured. In addition, the Russian forces lost 85 unmanned aerial systems; 58 artillery guns and multiple launch rocket systems; 58 tactical vehicles and fuel trucks; 48 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers; 21 main battle tanks; 2 pieces of special equipment; and 2 anti-aircraft weapons systems. 

Overall, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense assesses that the Russian forces have lost approximately 650,000 men and tens of thousands of heavy weapons systems. At this rate, Russian personnel losses will exceed 750,000 before the end of the year. 

About the Author: 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

Image Credit: Creative Commons.