Russia announced a significant increase in the number of people signing contracts to join the country’s military forces. According to Reuters, the increase in the number of people signing up for the Russian army comes after a devastating attack on a concert theater outside Moscow last month, which killed at least 144.
Over 100,000 people have signed contracts since the beginning of the year
According to the Russian army ministry, over 100,000 people have signed contracts since the beginning of the year. Approximately 16,000 have signed up in the last ten days alone.
The ministry said in a statement that some recent candidates expressed a wish to avenge those killed in the March 22 attack on the Crocus City Hall concert venue.
“During interviews conducted over the past week at selection points in Russian cities, most candidates indicated the desire to avenge those killed in the tragedy that occurred on March 22, 2024, in the Moscow region as the main motive for concluding a contract,” it said.
Who was behind the Moscow attack?
The horrific shooting and following fire claimed the lives of at least 144 people. This is Russia’s worst attack since the 2004 Beslan school siege.
Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack, which was also reported to be the group’s worst on European soil.
However, Russia accuses Ukraine of the terrorist incident.
Russian authorities, including Alexander Bortnikov, director of the Federal Security Service (FSB), and Nikolai Patrushev, secretary of Russia’s Security Council, have accused Ukraine and its allies, the US and Britain, of involvement.
“We believe that the action was prepared by both the Islamist radicals themselves and was facilitated by Western special services,” said Bortnikov.
“The special services of Ukraine are directly related to this,” he added.
However, no evidence supports these statements.
Ukraine has denied involvement in the incident, with officials noting that the border area was well secured by Russian military personnel, including special forces.
“To suggest the suspects were heading to Ukraine, would suggest they were stupid or suicidal,” said Andriy Yusov, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military intelligence directorate, in a conversation with BBC.