In St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, "volunteer" artillery divisions Nevsky, Ladozhsky, and St. Petersburg are being formed for the war in Ukraine. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports this in a report.
According to the Institute, two "volunteer battalions," Nevsky and Ladozhsky, are being recruited and formed in the Leningrad region. Local authorities also announced additional undetermined social support measures for recruits who signed contracts with the battalions.
"Conscripts," as indicated, are offered a one-time payment of 200,000 rubles and other social payments. The report notes that in Luga, 140 kilometers from St. Petersburg, a "volunteer" battalion called St. Petersburg is also being formed.
Russia's goal in creating such "volunteer battalions," ISW analysts note, is to expand combat power for the war against Ukraine without general mobilization.
The Russian invaders are using "scorched earth" tactics in Ukraine. In five months of full-scale invasion, Russian troops have attacked civilian targets 60 times more often than military targets.