Russia: Military Recruitment Exceeds Targets, According to Defense Minister

Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov stated that the armed forces are recruiting more contract soldiers than expected, without providing specific numbers. In 2025, Russia recruited over 422,000 soldiers and currently deploys around 700,000 troops in Ukraine. Military spending surged by 70% in 2024, with a human cost of 360,000 soldiers killed and wounded. Belousov also emphasized the focus on training recruits, particularly for units using unmanned systems.