Russia hardly mobilizes residents of large cities to avoid “destabilizing” political sentiment – UK intelligence

Russia is sustaining massive losses in its war against Ukraine. Yet, it primarily mobilizes residents of poorer regions, meaning that Russians from major cities are disproportionately less likely to fight and die. In this way, the Kremlin is deliberately limiting losses among the politically active urban population.

The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence reported this on the social media platform X, citing intelligence data, according to Ukrinform.

As noted by the Ministry, although Russia has continued to incur heavy losses since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine—including, likely, more than 400,000 killed and wounded in both 2025 and 2024—ethnic Russians from urban areas continue to make up a disproportionately small share of military personnel and, consequently, of fatalities compared with the rest of the population of the Russian Federation.

In particular, UK intelligence referred to the findings of a study by the independent Russian media outlet Proekt, which revealed that fewer than 1% of Russian government officials have relatives who took part in the illegal invasion of Ukraine.

“By focusing recruitment efforts disproportionately on impoverished regions, often predominantly populated by ethnic minorities, Russia's state apparatus better leverages financial inducements, whilst also limiting the impact on those urban-dwelling parts of the Russian population that have greater political agency,” the intelligence report said.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and Russia’s senior leadership are almost certainly prepared to tolerate persistently high casualty levels as long as these do not negatively affect public or elite support for the war. As long as losses at the front can be replaced, analysts believe.

As Ukrinform previously reported, under a decree signed by Vladimir Putin, between October 1 and December 31, 2025, the Russian Federation is to conscript 135,000 citizens for 12 months of compulsory military service outside the active combat zone in Ukraine.

According to the Deputy Head of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, Russia currently has no difficulty forcing people to go to war against Ukraine.