Russia launches major new recruitment drive - UK intelligence

The UK Defense Ministry wrote about this on Twitter. 

The Russian Defense Ministry (MoD) has launched a major new drive for volunteer recruits. A pervasive campaign has seen advertising appear on Russian social media sites, on billboards, and on TV.

It is noted that the advertisement appeals to the male pride of potential recruits by appealing to 'real men' and emphasizing the financial benefits of joining the army.

“Since its access to prisoner recruitment was stopped, the Wagner Group private military company is also competing for the limited pool of Russian fighting-age men. It remains highly unlikely that the campaign will attract the MoD’s reported target of 400,000 volunteers. The authorities are almost certainly seeking to delay any new, overt mandatory mobilization for as long as possible to minimize domestic dissent,” the UK Defense Ministry tweeted. 

• Earlier, UK intelligence reported that Russia had canceled the Immortal Regiment's May 9 march to avoid possible references to its heavy losses in the war against Ukraine.