Russia is so desperate for troops it's turning to Kazakhstan for help

The Russian Armed Forces have suffered substantial losses since invading Ukraine and now Moscow has reportedly begun focusing on recruiting new troops from Kazakhstan. 

On August 3rd, Reuters reported that recruitment ads offering an immediate payment of $5300 dollars had begun popping up on Kahzak computer screens across the country. 

Kazakhstan is a former Soviet republic that shares a long border with Russia to its North and as such the country is home to a substantial population of 3 million ethnic Russians. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons

Kazakhstan has also been one of Russia’s closest allies in the region but its government hasn’t been supportive of the Kremlin’s invasion and has repeatedly called for peace. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons

For example, Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko explained to Al Jazeera that the country had presented itself as a mediator from the very first days of the conflict. 

Photo Credit: Twitter @romanvassilenko

‘What we have publicly stated is that we want this conflict to end as soon as possible,” Vassilenko said when asked if he thought the invasion of Ukraine was justified. 

“We want to do our part. We want it to end as soon as possible. It is very, very, very painful to watch,” Vassilenko added. 

The ad plays on the perceived connection between the two countries and it features the Kazakh and Russian flags together with the words “shoulder to shoulder” overlaid on it. 

The ad promises those who join a one-time payment of 450,000 rubles but a monthly salary of $120,000 for those who sign a contract as well as other undisclosed benefits. 

Reuters also reported the ad led those interested in joining the Russian military would serve in the Sakhalin region in the country’s Far East. 

Photo Credit: Wiki Commons

The website where the ad leads was set up by a company known as the Human Capital Development Agency of the Sakhalin region, a group set up by the local government. 

“The adverts imply that the Kremlin is also running out of manpower,” wrote Fortune’s Eleanor Pringle but Russians aren't likely to find a lot of new recruits in Kazakhstan.

Pringle noted that the country has strict laws against allowing its citizens from joining a foreign war and that it is illegal, something Roman Vassilenko explained to Al Jazeera.

Similar ads have also appeared in Armenia according to Radio Free Europe’s Russian reporting and the news organization also reported no official comments on the ads have been made by government officials in Kazakhstan, 

The Associated Press reported data from two independent Russian media outlets found Moscow had lost upwards of 50,000 soldiers killed during the invasion as of April 2023. 

The assessment fell in line with an analysis from the UK Ministry of Defence in February which reported between 40,000 to 60,000 Russians had been killed fighting in Ukraine.