The dishevelled recruits look barely able to stand and find it difficult to string a sentence together - presumably because they are still under the influence.
17:40, Sat, Nov 22, 2025 Updated: 17:45, Sat, Nov 22, 2025
Putin's army is resorting to recruiting alcoholics (Image: Getty)
Russian army recruiters appear to be resorting to increasingly desperate measures to replenish the depleted ranks of its frontline troops. After almost four years of brutal fighting, Russia's army has sustained massive casualties for modest gains.
Latest data from Ukraine's army shows that over one million Russian soldiers have been killed or injured since the launch of Putin's full-scale war in February 2022. Friday saw another 1,170 added to that grim list, as fierce battles continued all along the frontlines. The Kremlin has in the past raided its prisons to beef up troop numbers, as well as try to lure impoverished Russians with wads of cash.
Russian contract soldiers of the “new generation” keep impressing their commanders with their top-tier fitness and skills. Fully “ready” for the next assault. pic.twitter.com/zUmFMAf22O
Now recruiters are reportedly tricking drunken Russians to sign a military contract.
In a video posted to social media, a clearly frustrated military instructor quizzes a motley group of Russian men about why they signed up.
The dishevelled recruits look barely able to stand and find it difficult to string a sentence together - presumably because they are still under the influence.
The instructor says: "They won't even take this s**t to the training ground anymore. P**s soaked f***ers. Pick up your helmet. I'm telling you for the last time. Pick it up and stand there holding it! If you fall now, you f****t, I swear I'll p**s on you. Why did you sign the contract?"
The reluctant recruit replies: "Me? They tricked me. I didn't want....to sign up."
Unmoved, the instructor snaps back: "Then why the hell did you sign the contract? Did they beat you?"
"I was drunk," the unfortunate man said. As the instructor goes down the line asking the same question, he gets the same answer.
One man says he signed the contract because he thought it would help him to quit drinking.
To which the instructor - by now losing his cool - retorted: "Oh you thought you would stop drinking, did you? Then why are you acting like this?
"Did you think this was a kindergarten or a rehab centre? That they'd babysit you?"
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