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PaperclipPerfector  3d ago (text post)   487 thread views

Transnational Thursday for April 3, 2025

Transnational Thursday is a thread for people to discuss international news, foreign policy or international relations history. Feel free as well to drop in with coverage of countries you’re interested in, talk about ongoing dynamics like the wars in Israel or Ukraine, or even just whatever you’re reading.

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The conscription thing isn't really true. Russia conscripts twice a year starting in april and october every year and has done so dating back to the soviet era. Western media seems to always run the story like clockwork around this time of year despite it not being anything new. They might end up on the border and could see combat there, but the people fighting in the territory of Ukraine are voluntary or mobilized reservists, with the caveat that the voluntary come from very poor regions and receive significant sign on bonuses.

Mmmh, thanks.

the voluntary come from very poor regions and receive significant sign on bonuses.

Is this still true? My sense is also that they were also mislead/pressured.

IIRC Russian conscripts are brutally hazed but go up the social ladder and receive a pay raise if they choose a voluntary enlistment.

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