Russian troops have significantly strengthened the border with Ukraine, – ISW

Russian troops have significantly strengthened the border with Ukraine, – ISW Polina Buyanova

Since 2022, Russian troops have significantly strengthened the protection of the international border between Russia and Ukraine. Also, the command no longer relies on conscripts and potential deserters to guard the border.

This was reported by 24 Channel with reference to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). It is noted that ISW analysts cite information from a Russian military blogger.

How Russian occupiers guard the border

A military blogger claimed that Russian troops have deployed “serious” forces to protect the border and have formed a separate group to guard the border.

The Institute for the Study of War noted that they are unable to independently verify these statements.

Another Kremlin-linked military blogger claimed that the recruitment of Russian volunteers has rapidly increased since the start of Ukraine's invasion of the Kursk region. He noted that there are also many convicts fighting near Sudzha in Kursk region, in particular former fighters of the “Wagner Group”. Russian prisoners are participating in the war against Ukraine as part of the Russian project “K”, but the blogger did not specify the details of this project.

By the way, it became known earlier that Russia is replenishing its ranks for the war against Ukraine, recruiting not only contract soldiers, but also criminals and debtors. In particular, a law recently came into force in Russia, according to which servicemen who signed a contract after December 1, 2024, have their debts on loans written off.