Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) warned that Russia is facing a demographic crisis that could see its population shrink by at least 25% over the next half century, citing classified internal reports circulating in Moscow.
HUR said in a Sept. 18 statement that Russian businesses are already struggling with a shortage of workers, while vocational schools lack students. The bleakest demographic indicators are reported in Russia’s Far East, where large numbers of men have been conscripted and sent to fight in Ukraine.
The agency linked these trends directly to the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion, noting that Russia has lost more than one million troops killed or wounded in combat. Most were men aged 20 to 35 – the core of the country’s working-age population.
To counter the labor crisis, Russian officials are proposing to expand the use of migrant workers. HUR noted, however, that many of these migrants are also being diverted into supporting the war effort.
“Such an approach once again demonstrates the Kremlin’s unwillingness to end its war against Ukraine and instead to continue it at the expense of Russia’s subjugated peoples, as well as men from occupied Ukrainian territories,” HUR said.
It added that any Russian soldier seeking to avoid combat in Ukraine could use the Kyiv-backed project “I Want to Live,” accessible via a Telegram chatbot.
The project was set up by HUR aimed at helping Russian soldiers to safely surrender to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) and save their lives.
Dissatisfaction is growing among Russia’s troops, as they are increasingly given unrealistic objectives and sent on needlessly dangerous missions by their commanders. In several calls recently intercepted by Ukraine’s military intelligence, individuals discuss ways to avoid further deployment, while Russia’s civilian population is panicked by the fear of being conscripted.
Examples of the things Ukrainian eavesdroppers have heard in intercepted calls can be seen in these links:
‘Three Holes in His Leg and Shrapnel in His Neck’ - Just 2 Russians Survived ‘Meat Assault’
Russian Woman Says: ‘Trump Will Lead the Horned One,’ Jews Will Rule the World
‘They’re Recruiting For Barrier Troops’: Intercept Suggests Russia Using WWII-Style Tactics
‘Brelok F**king Ate Him’: Intercept Reveals Russian Cannibal Soldier
‘They Drive Tanks for Vodka’ – Intercept Reveals Drunk Russian Troops Terrorizing Border Village
‘We Need to Take Odesa’ – Russian Woman Cites Fake ‘Biolabs’ to Justify Mykolaiv Attacks
‘The F**king Guys Are Dying!’ – Intercepted Call Reveals Chaos and Command Breakdown in Russian Army
‘They Even Ate Theraflu, Mom’ – Intercept Reveals Russian Soldiers Starving on Front Lines