The scale of Russia's human losses in the war against Ukraine, which, according to the latest estimates by Western intelligence and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, have reached 1.2 million killed and wounded, has forced European governments to strengthen supervision over the activities of Russian recruitment networks. Bloomberg analysts note that the shortage of manpower is pushing the Kremlin to seek mercenaries outside the Russian Federation, particularly among migrants in EU countries and the Global South. This is reported by UNN.
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Due to the depletion of internal mobilization resources, Russian special services have intensified covert recruitment through social media networks and front employment companies. European security services have paid particular attention to attempts to recruit foreign students and seasonal workers into the ranks of the Russian Armed Forces under the guise of working in "construction detachments" in the occupied territories.
In response to these threats, a number of European Union countries have launched investigations into the activities of organizations that may be linked to the Russian Ministry of Defense.
We are seeing a change in tactics: instead of mass mobilization, which is politically risky, the Kremlin is trying to "buy" soldiers around the world, using manipulation and disinformation
European intelligence agencies warn that such actions not only fuel aggression but also create direct threats to the internal security of the countries where these networks operate.
Demographic blow to Russia and consequences for the front
The huge number of losses – over 1.2 million people as of the end of January 2026 – has already caused irreversible changes in Russian demographics and the labor market. Despite this, the Russian command continues to adhere to the strategy of "meat assaults," which requires constant replenishment of units by at least 30-40 thousand people monthly.
Experts emphasize that Russia's ability to maintain such intensity of fighting without officially announcing a new wave of mobilization will depend precisely on the success of its foreign recruitment campaigns.