Putin Orders Russian Police to Recruit Ukraine Invasion Veterans to Fill Massive Staff Shortage

In a recent statement during the final board meeting of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), Russian leader Vladimir Putin ordered the ministry to address its severe personnel shortages by actively recruiting veterans of the war against Ukraine, The Moscow Times reported on March 4.

Putin emphasized that veterans, with their combat experience and physical and psychological resilience, could significantly strengthen the ranks of the MVD. He urged the ministry to intensify recruitment efforts for such candidates to fill the growing number of vacancies.

According to MVD Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, the shortage of personnel in the ministry reached 212,000 in 2025. “Staff turnover is enormous,” Kolokoltsev said, noting that 58,000 new employees were hired in the past year, while 80,000 left the service. Since 2020, 350,000 employees have left, effectively leading to a near 50% turnover in the department. The minister pointed out that one of the primary reasons for this shortage was low wages and excessive workload.

In response, Putin mentioned that the authorities had made a series of decisions aimed at improving the material and social conditions for police officers, with these measures set to be implemented in 2026. The most prominent change will be an increase in salaries, according to the president.

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Kolokoltsev highlighted that the most acute staff shortages are felt in areas such as patrol services, criminal investigations, district officers, and in investigative and inquiry bodies.

In the face of this growing issue, the MVD recently published a draft order outlining new procedures for involving various personnel in police duties. The draft specifies that employees from MVD-related educational institutions, interns, and other department personnel, including investigators and forensic experts, will be granted powers typically assigned to law enforcement officers.

Earlier, it was reported that growing local budget deficits are forcing Russian municipalities to slash social support for military families. In the city of Yurga, a recent municipal decree cut kindergarten fee subsidies for the families of soldiers fighting in Ukraine from 100% down to just 25%.

Full childcare reimbursement is now strictly reserved for families where a parent has been killed or declared missing in action. Regional government sources warn that these cuts could soon spread to other districts across the Kemerovo region as local budgets continue to dry up.

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