RUSSIA/UKRAINE Russian builders enlisted in return for orders

According to independent Russian news portal ‘Viorstka’ [‘Вёрсткa’], the Moscow authorities have asked at least two large companies to find dozens of volunteers who would agree to sign contracts for military service in the conflict zone in Ukraine. One of the firms received a specific “task” from the Moscow Mayor's office to provide at least 30 volunteers by the end of August. According to one of the portal’s sources, the same “request” has been made to most of the general contractors carrying out contracts for the city authorities. “Up to now, each Russian village has had to find recruits, but now every corporation has to do this,” commented the source.

Another of the portal’s sources has revealed that his company had received a specific proposal: “Find volunteers and in return you will continue to receive orders.” In other words: a contract with the defence ministry in exchange for contracts with the Mayor's office. “We are talking about volunteers who are to be sent to the front as military personnel, not as construction contractors in the occupied territories,” the source continued, adding that: “Officially, this is always a ‘request’ or a ‘suggestion’, and never given in the form of an ultimatum. But everyone who has been doing work for the Moscow authorities for some time understands such ‘suggestions’.”

The Moscow Mayor's office has yet to respond to Viorstka’s request to comment on the matter.