Pensioners called to war in Russia - media

Russians who have served in the security services are lured to go to war in Ukraine. Older men are promised increased pensions so that they go to kill Ukrainians. The Moscow Times reported about this, citing a Russian government resolution.

According to the newspaper, the initiative applies to the military, firefighters, employees of the Interior Ministry, Rosgvardiya, the Federal Bailiff Service, the Federal Drug Control Service and the Federal Penitentiary Service, as well as prosecutors and investigators.

It is noted that the Russian leadership feels an acute shortage of manpower ready to fight. Because of this, the authorities have launched a large-scale campaign of military propaganda.

In St. Petersburg alone, more than 500 billboards urging people to join the army were installed in the city and 1,500 more stickers were installed in the underground and on public transport. Also the media constantly talks about the need to go to war.

In Moscow, those who are willing to go to war are promised payments from Mayor Sergei Sobyanin as well as benefits for their families.

The Moscow Times quotes The Washington Post as saying that the Kremlin expects to mobilize 400,000 troops by the end of the year. Some 115,000 of them will go straight to the front.

Earlier, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said that there are so many volunteers in Russia that "every day more than 1,300 people are recruited for contracts.