Desperate Putin officials proposing to recruit women and seniors to fight in Ukraine

Russia is reportedly looking to recruit women, seniors, and people with disabilities as it grows desperate amid massive troop losses.

Four years on from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the country is struggling to maintain stamina. Reports show that the casualties have far outweighed the rates of new recruits, leading to massive, unprecedented shortages.

2026 has been a particularly difficult year for the two neighboring countries at war. Despite huge diplomatic efforts, they seem no closer to achieving a lasting peace agreement and putting an end to the deadliest state-to-state conflict since WWII.

Core disagreements over territory, security guarantees, and NATO membership have presented impenetrable obstacles, and both Putin and Zelensky have repeatedly rejected peace proposals.

A popular Russian TV program hosted by Vladimir Solovyov recently revealed that top Russian officials have proposed expanding the scope of potential military recruits, as troop numbers continue to fall.

According to the show, officials are now proposing to recruit women, seniors, people with disabilities, and essentially anyone willing to serve — regardless of age, gender, or health.

The new push for recruits comes under the slogan “everyone should defend the Motherland.” Solovyov added that “the justification is the usual one, ‘They did it during World War II.’”

Unlike men, military service for women is entirely voluntary. However, after the new indication that Putin is getting desperate, some fear that Conscription may be extended to women, too.

In 2024, independent Russian newspaper Verstka reported that the average contract soldier in Putin’s army was significantly older compared to the start of the war in 2022.

In fact, nearly half of new voluntary recruits at the time were over 50 years old. Now, two years later, the situation has become dire.

Ukraine’s General Staff reported on July 21 that Russian forces lost another 1,370 troops, three tanks, and 92 artillery systems over the past 24 hours.

Russia’s total estimated personnel losses since the start of its full-scale invasion have now reached approximately 1,431,900 troops killed or wounded, they reported.

U.S. officials have also estimated that Russia is losing around 7,000 soldiers per week. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said this week that the average life expectancy of a Russian soldier on the battlefield in Ukraine is approximately 20-30 minutes.