War in Ukraine: what is this terrible blackmail by Vladimir Putin to swell the ranks of his army ?

Vladimir Poutine avec le personnel militaire à Moscou le 1er janvier 2024. MAXPPP – Gavriil Grigorov/Kremlin Pool

At the start of 2024, Russia needs to strengthen its ranks, and for this Vladimir Putin promises Russian nationality to foreigners in exchange for a year in the army.

As the conflict nears its second year, human losses are significant for both countries. But Russia has found a solution to recruit new soldiers: Moscow promises to give Russian nationality to foreigners in exchange for one year of service in the ranks of its army, reports the magazine Géo .

An attractive method

The last mobilization ordered by Vladimir Putin dates from September 2022. But according to the British Ministry of Defense, the Kremlin would like to wait until the elections which will be held next March, to make a new one.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 10 October 2023.

Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/GL5Eu6UYEO

🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/TecMeOut2i

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) October 10, 2023

However, Russia has found a way to recruit people wanting to fight alongside it and this method has already proven itself. If Vladimir Putin has already succeeded in seducing prisoners in exchange for reduced sentences, or even better salaries for new soldiers, it is another solution which is adopted by the invader of the' #39;Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin would have signed a decree allowing Russian nationality to be given to foreigners enlisting for a year in the "special military operation" in Ukraine, according to the independent Russian media Meduza. But this naturalization also extends "to the immediate family of the signatories, with only one month of administrative delay", reports the magazine Géo.

However, this method is not that new, since in 2022, these citizenship application procedures were already in place, but against three years of service in the army.

But Putin looked even further. On December 31 in St. Petersburg, police arrested more than 3,000 migrants during a raid, explains Novaya Gazeta Europe. Nearly 1,500 would have accepted this type of contract, under penalty of seeing their families expelled.

For now, fighting continues to rage on the front lines between Russia and Ukraine as the polar cold of winter hits this region of the globe.