Newsweek: Putin Leans on Mercenary Recruits to Avoid Political Fallout

The British Ministry of Defense (MoD) reported in its latest update on the war in Ukraine that Redut, which has been involved in the conflict since the beginning, is recruiting mercenaries "under the guise of 'volunteers,' including former Wagner personnel." The update noted that the Kremlin "likely supervises and finances" the Redut group's activities, including recruitment.

Mark N. Katz, professor at George Mason University Schar School of Policy and Government, previously told Newsweek, however, that it could be possible that Putin "was not planning any such offensive but is just focusing on the defensive aim of holding onto the Ukrainian territory that Russia now occupies."

Read the story at Newsweek at this link.