If we return to the topic of recruitment, which is not popular in the Kremlin, we will continue the conversation about the monthly loss of Russian soldiers. They exceed the number of new contracts that were signed, and therefore the Ministry of Defense's recruitment system operates in a situation where it is impossible to compensate for combat losses. According to estimates by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), in the first half of 2026, the monthly losses of the Russian armed forces (killed, wounded, missing) amounted to 30-34 thousand people while recruiting about 27 thousand new military personnel. In the second half of 2026, the situation worsened, the losses of the Russian army in July amounted to 42.9 thousand people, in August - 42 thousand, in September - 46.2 thousand, and in October - 54.4 thousand people. Thus, for four months, Russian soldiers lost 185,500 people, while the monthly losses increased from 42,900 in July to 54,400. in October, leading to an increase in the monthly deficit of potential contract workers to 7,000 people. During January-September 2026, 263 thousand contracts were closed compared to 292 thousand in the corresponding period in 2025 (a decrease of 10%). Even at the current recruitment rate of about 1,000 people per day (about 30,000 per month), which is 20% lower than in 2025, the planned annual figure of 409,000 people will not be reached.

If we return to the topic of recruitment, which is not popular in the Kremlin, we will continue the conversation about the monthly loss of Russian soldiers. They exceed the number of new contracts that were signed, and therefore the Ministry of Defense's recruitment system operates in a situation where it is impossible to compensate for combat losses. According to estimates by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), in the first half of 2026, the monthly losses of the Russian armed forces (killed, wounded, missing) amounted to 30-34 thousand people while recruiting about 27 thousand new military personnel. In the second half of 2026, the situation worsened, the losses of the Russian army in July amounted to 42.9 thousand people, in August - 42 thousand, in September - 46.2 thousand, and in October - 54.4 thousand people. Thus, for four months, Russian soldiers lost 185,500 people, while the monthly losses increased from 42,900 in July to 54,400. in October, leading to an increase in the monthly deficit of potential contract workers to 7,000 people. During January-September 2026, 263 thousand contracts were closed compared to 292 thousand in the corresponding period in 2025 (a decrease of 10%). Even at the current recruitment rate of about 1,000 people per day (about 30,000 per month), which is 20% lower than in 2025, the planned annual figure of 409,000 people will not be reached.

Against this background, the cost of attracting one contract soldier to serve in the RF Armed Forces increased from 1.4 million rubles in 2025 to 1.9 million rubles in 2026 (an increase of about 30%). In August 2026 alone, the constituent entities of the Russian Federation spent 55 billion rubles on one-time payments. Remuneration of intermediaries for the involvement of civilians in the conclusion of military contracts was introduced in 56 regions, and the average monthly expenses for payments to them increased from 358 million to 802 million rubles (the total amount exceeded 7.7 billion rubles).

A natural question arises: can an economy in crisis withstand such a load? and for how long