Russia's regions failing to get enough recruits quickly, so enlistment bonuses increase — ISW

Russia's regions, most likely, are not able to recruit the required number of recruits in a short period of time, so they are increasing financial incentives in order to do it in time, announced the American Institute for the Study of War in its latest update on the Russo-Ukrainian war.

In the Republic of Tatarstan, it was announced that recruits of the volunteer battalions "Alga" and "Timer" will receive a one-time payment in the amount of 360,000 rubles (about $5,800), rising from the previously advertised 260,000 rubles (about $4,200).

"The Republic of Tatarstan likely increased its offered enlistment bonus due to a lack of recruits," say analysts.

Priority axes for Russians

ISW also reported that Russian troops in Ukraine are probably operating as part of approximately six groups focused on the city of Kharkiv and the northeastern Kharkiv Oblast, along the Izyum-Slovyansk line, Siversk-Lysychansk area, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka-Donetsk City area and southern Ukraine.

These dispositions indicate that Moscow prefers to advance its troops around Bakhmut and possibly to Siversk, while at the same time trying to use the "DPR" fighters to seize territories that they have not been able to take since 2014 on the Avdiyivka axis.

"The high concentration of volunteer battalions around Izyum and Slovyansk suggests that that area is not a focus of Russian attention and may be vulnerable to Ukrainian counterattacks," the report says.

And the accumulation of forces in and around Kherson Oblast could create serious problems for Russian command and control, especially if Ukrainian forces continue their counteroffensive there.

Other conclusions of analysts

• Russian forces conducted ground attacks north of Kharkiv City, northwest of Slovyansk, east of Siversk, and made unspecified gains around Bakhmut;
• Russian military recruitment and enlistment centers continue to face challenges in incentivizing Russians to sign military service contracts;
• Russian occupation authorities continued rubleization measures and civilian data collection in occupied territories to set conditions for annexation referenda.