Russia Has Recruited At Least 88,000 Ukrainians Into Its Military During Occupation, Rights Group Says

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) The rights group said that Russia's PSB Bank had reported issuing 88,000 electronic "SVOi" cards in occupied areas of Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.

"At first glance, this appears to be another digital service for participants in the so-called SVO. In reality, this figure is one of the few publicly available indicators that allows an assessment of the scale of the involvement of residents of occupied territories in the war on Russia's side," the organization said.

According to the group, the "SVOi" card is issued to individuals who have received combat veteran status while serving in Russian armed formations. The card functions as an identification document, a bank card, and a means of accessing state payments and benefits.

The human rights group said the issuance of 88,000 cards suggests the approximate number of residents of occupied territories who have been integrated into Russia's military system and officially recognized by the Russian state as participants in the war against Ukraine.

The organization stressed that the Kremlin is pursuing two objectives simultaneously: legitimizing the large-scale involvement of residents of occupied territories in the war and creating a distinct social group tied to the occupation regime through benefits, status, and state payments.

According to the Eastern Human Rights Group, the scale of Russia's use of human resources in the occupied territories is significant. The group said the recruitment of men from occupied areas into the war is part of a deliberate strategy aimed at reducing the local population and facilitating its replacement with settlers loyal to Russia.

Earlier reports indicated that Russia has also been seeking to address shortages of contract soldiers through active recruitment campaigns targeting female students.

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