War in Ukraine: “You are a man, become one”, the new Russian campaign to recruit soldiers

The Russian army communicates in all directions to try to recruit a maximum of volunteers for the war in Ukraine. The new music video from the Russian Ministry of Defense for recruitment is not lace: scary music, dark atmosphere and serious faces.

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This Clip uses all the virilistic clichés that are current in a good part of Russian society, which is still very patriarchal around the image of the “mujik”, literally the man. “You are a man, become one”declares this advertisement presenting in particular a security guard who seems bored in his work and suddenly gives meaning to his life by donning the khaki uniform of the Russian army.

There are more than two million security guards in Russia, we meet them on every street corner, locked in overheated sentry boxes and often poorly paid. They represent the bottom of the social ladder and it is to them that this campaign is particularly aimed. The minimum salary for those who go to Ukraine is 200,000 rubles per month, that is to say 2300 euros, between four and six times the average salary depending on the region.

The government denies wanting to launch a second wave of mobilization

For the moment, despite the rumours, the legislative changes which now allow summonses to be sent via the internet and the fears of the population, the government still denies having the intention of launching a second wave of mobilization after that of September. But obviously, the Russian army always needs more men on the front and tries to attract them by all means.

In another video, the army plays on the fiber of the father of the family. “Protect your future and that of your children”, says the slogan. In Moscow, ads encouraging people to get involved are everywhere, from shop windows to screens on buses. It is unclear whether this hype will recruit enough volunteers while in the country’s cemeteries, the graves of soldiers are piling up.