Russia is trying to recruit residents of the breakaway region of Transnistria to fight in the war against Ukraine by offering them fast-track Russian citizenship.
According to Babel, citing an evening address by Volodymyr Zelensky and statements from Moldovan Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu, Russian intelligence services have stepped up efforts to enlist people from Transnistria into the Russian military.
The report says Russia is facing manpower shortages due to weakening recruitment inside the country, and is therefore targeting vulnerable populations in Transnistria. Recruiters are reportedly using the region’s poor economic conditions and pro-Russian sentiment among some residents to attract volunteers.
Recruitment is said to be conducted through military enlistment offices, private groups, and intermediaries offering contracts to serve in the Russian armed forces.
Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu also warned that Russia has increased the activity of its networks and structures in Transnistria.
Photo related to the so-called Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR)“The Russian passport is becoming the passport of an aggressor state that is no longer welcomed at the table of the civilized world. I believe the Kremlin’s decision is linked to attempts to send as many soldiers to the front as possible, especially given that recruitment rates have recently declined,” Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu said.
According to officials in Chișinău, Moscow is trying to destabilize the region and create additional security risks for both Ukraine and Moldova.
Despite Russia’s attempts to recruit manpower from the PMR, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu threatened Moldova with intervention if the unrecognized Transnistrian region came under threat.
According to him, Chișinău, allegedly with Ukraine’s involvement, has imposed a “blockade” on the region and is “worsening living conditions” for local residents by creating “trade, banking, and transport barriers.”
Militarnyi previously reported that recruitment into the Russian army on contract has dropped by 20% compared to 2025.
German researcher Janis Kluge said that after remaining relatively stable in 2024, Russia’s recruitment numbers began to decline and continued falling throughout 2025 and 2026. At the start of 2026, Russia was recruiting about 800 soldiers per day, compared with roughly 1,000–1,200 daily recruits in early 2025.
The report also notes that Russia is relying more heavily on financial incentives to attract volunteers. Large signing bonuses and higher salaries have become the main recruitment tool and have increased significantly since 2024.
The Russian federal government has doubled the signing bonus for military contracts to 400,000 rubles, while regional governments offer additional payments that make up a major part of the overall compensation.
