Russian contract army recruitment: enlistment point amid slowing intake

At a 'Service by Contract' recruitment stand, two staff members in camouflage vests offer passersby a place in the Russian Army. A poster with a soldier and the slogan 'Our profession is to defend the Motherland' contrasts with people walking past the stand without interest. The scene illustrates the slowdown in recruitment: over eight months of 2026, contract enlistments fell by 10% compared to the previous year.