US Intelligence Calls Russia A Lack Of Personnel In Ukraine: Criminal Acts Of Criminal Acts Sentenced, Results Of Sanitation And Financial

Illustration of the Russian army in Ukraine. (Wikimedia Commons/Mil.ru)

JAKARTA - The Russian military suffered a shortage of personnel while at war with Ukraine, seeking to recruit contract service members, may even recruit convicted criminals, a US official said on Wednesday, citing the country's intelligence.

"Russian military is suffering from a severe shortage of personnel in Ukraine," said a US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a decline in intelligence ratings.

The official said it was believed the Russian Ministry of Defense was trying to recruit contract service members to make up for the shortage of these personnel.

"Including forcing injured soldiers to re-enter the battle, obtaining personnel from private security companies and paying bonuses for military service."

"Separately, we have credible reports that the Russian Ministry of Defense is also likely to start recruiting criminals convicted in Ukraine in exchange for pardons and financial compensation," the official said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree last Thursday to increase the number of Russian armed forces from 1.9 million to 2.04 million as the war in Ukraine entered its seventh month.

Moscow has not disclosed any losses in the conflict since the first weeks, but Western officials and the Kyiv government say the numbers are in the thousands.