Desperate Putin shames taxi drivers, security guards and fitness trainers into joining his war effort in in Ukraine in taunting adverts
- Campaign is a desperate move by Kremlin to replace those killed and maimed
- Taxi drivers, security guards and fitness trainers told to ‘be a man’ in adverts
Russia’s defence ministry has taunted taxi drivers, security guards and fitness trainers in a new recruitment drive to fight for Putin in Ukraine.
They are told to ‘Be a man’ in slickly-produced TV and social media adverts where they are promised large pay increases to go to the front.
Images flick between showing men in mundane roles as a driver or guarding a supermarket or training in a gym with supposedly macho images toting guns and wearing military fatigues.
The campaign is a desperate move by the Kremlin to replace those killed and maimed who were mobilised from September 2022 to fight in Vladimir Putin’s war.
Alongside conscripting new recruits, the defence ministry is seeking to coax others to the military conflict by appealing to their macho instincts and sense of adventure.
However the campaign has faced an angry backlash warning the men they face death by signing up to the brazen recruitment drive.
Russia’s defence ministry has taunted taxi drivers, security guards and fitness trainers in a new recruitment drive to fight for Putin in Ukraine. Pictured: Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu
The campaign is a desperate move by the Kremlin to replace those killed and maimed who were mobilised from September 2022 to fight in Vladimir Putin’s war
Some estimates say Putin has lost 200,000-plus in his ill-conceived war.
The men are shown in their civilian jobs and how they would look in uniforms.
A security guard in the fruit and vegetable section of a supermarket is asked in the commercial: ‘Is this the defender you dreamed of becoming?’
A personal trainer is taunted: ‘Is this where your power is?’
A taxi driver is goaded: ‘Is this the path you wanted to choose?’
They are told: ‘You are a man. Be a man.Serve with a contract.
‘Monthly payments starting from 204,000 roubles [£2,005 or $2,500].’
This is significantly higher than many men are likely to earn in their civilian jobs.
The advert has been posted on state-owned ops pro-Kremlin outlets like RIA, RT, Readovka, Smotri, and ‘Z’ Telegram channels which back the war.
It is unclear if it will run on mainstream TV channels.
The advert is one of several being used by Putin’s military recruiters to lure men to fight in the war. Pictured: Putin and Shoigu in Moscow on April 17
Recruitment points have been set up near shops and stations for men to register their interest to join – though most appear deserted.
One angry comment reads: ‘You’re a man, leave your family and go kill on someone else’s land for Putin’s ambitions.’
Another asked: ‘Will they show it to the children of MPs? Or do they live too well in France, Italy and the States?’
One more comment said: ‘If you have no brain, go and serve in the Russian army. Brain is not needed to obey orders.’
The advert is one of several being used by Putin’s military recruiters to lure men to fight in the war.
Ironically, one of Russia’s most famous fitness instructors is Alexey Stolyarov, 33, son-in-law of daughter of loyalist defence minister Sergei Shoigu – who is responsible for the advertisement.
The partner of his daughter Ksenia, 32, Stolyarov has repeatedly refused demands to enlist for the war.
Head of notorious pro-Putin private army Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, offered: ‘I will train him for six weeks. I will help him improve by sending him to combat operations.’
Instead Stolyarov continues to travel widely in Russia and abroad.
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