Russian lawmakers authorize Putin to use military force outside the country, Part II

[Norgarth]

 

And that, nowadays, most of them are volunteers. The old contraktniks who started the war are dead. The PMC's like Wagner are either dead, or signed contracts. The original mobiks are definitely dead - gone home crushed, cubed and palletised. The criminals dredged from the prisons are dead. When presented with an argument from the Communist Party (The original, Soviet Union, communist party) that offering amnesty to criminals sent to the front was a bad idea - the Russian government's response could be paraphrased as "We don't expect them to live long enough to enjoy it". All you've got left are people attracted by signing bonuses and death bonuses larger than a year's salary, and the lottery chance that they might live long enough to collect it. (They won't)

Actually it sounds like most of the Russian troops are conscripts rather than volunteers. Up to close to a million intakes since the start of the invasion. 

Judging by the video Raven linked, the troops don't want to be there, Putin has essentially grabbed them and throw them at Ukraine.  And he keeps having to up the maximum conscription age because he's running short of warm bodies. 

The video also indicated that he's fucking up the Russian economy in the process,  they've got more jobs that need doing than there are people to do them (and that was before the latest draft)  Foreign workers aren't entering Russia for fear of being drafted, people who are currently eligible (or slightly above the current limit) for conscription are likely pondering fleeing the country before their number gets called,  and let's not forget the mountains of vehicles and weaponry Russia has already lost and needs to replace. 

Sooner or later Russia's economy is gonna collapse like a jenga tower as Putin keeps pulling blocks to try and build up the war effort (and his ego)