Kremlin calls out ‘real men’ to fight in Ukraine

Recruitment Kremlin campaign has been met with mixed reactions in Russia

The Kremlin has launched a recruitment campaign targeting “real men” to join the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, as Moscow prepares for a possible counteroffensive from Kyiv this spring.

The new ad has raised fears that a second wave of mobilization for the war could be imminent, following the first wave last September, which saw around 300,000 men conscripted. However, Moscow has not specified how many more men it may be seeking to recruit.

New Russian Military Recruitment Video https://t.co/oDMUVO58Aa via @YouTube ssians please don’t be blinded by kremlin propaganda war machine! There are plenty of places to hide from conscription in this world! Remember hide & go seek #RussianArmy #russia #warmachine #slavaukraini

— TheOfficial_onevisualeye_ (@TheOfficial_OVi) April 25, 2023

The Kremlin ad, released by the Russian Ministry of Defense shows three men in mundane jobs, pondering their life choices before imagining themselves as soldiers in army uniforms with the letter “Z” on their arm patches. The ad calls on men to be “real men” and join the fight in Ukraine, framing military service as a noble and manly pursuit.

The message is clear: real men do not shy away from a fight, they embrace it.

The ad then asks viewers if they dreamed of becoming this kind of defender and questions their current career choices before urging them to sign up as contract soldiers with a promised monthly salary starting at 204,000 rubles.

The recruitment campaign has been met with mixed reactions in Russia. While some see it as an opportunity to prove their bravery and loyalty to the country, others view it as a dangerous call to become “cannon fodder” in a war that is not theirs.

Critics have also pointed out that the “real man” narrative plays into the macho image of President Vladimir Putin, who has often been photographed engaging in physical activities, such as swimming and horse riding.