Medvedev: about 410,000 people have been hired for contract service since the beginning of the year

About 410,000 people have been accepted for military service under contract since the beginning of the year, said Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev during communication with Russian military personnel during a visit to the Alabino training ground in the Moscow region.

“In total, since January 1 of this year, about 410,000 people have been hired for the contract. This work to attract military personnel to contract will continue next year,” he said.

According to Medvedev, this work is going “quite well,” and there is an increase in the number of people willing to defend the country. The Deputy Chairman of the Security Council also supported increasing the training period for military personnel.

“We understand that if the operational situation on the line of combat contact allows this period to be increased, this is very good <...> Our enemy is now sending hell,” Medvedev added.

On October 25, Medvedev reported that 385,000 military personnel had entered service, including 305,000 contract soldiers and about 80,000 volunteers. The increase in the number of people wishing to serve in the Russian army under contract is due to increased consolidation in society and good financial conditions, said then press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov.

During the partial mobilization announced on September 21, 2022 and lasting until the end of October, 318,000 people were mobilized. A large number of volunteers wanted to go to the combat zone, Russian President Vladimir Putin explained at the time. After that, he said that the issue of mobilization was “at an end.”

On October 3, 2023, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu confirmed that the General Staff does not plan to carry out additional mobilization; there are enough military personnel in the army to conduct a special operation.