iStories investigation shows how Russia recruits soldiers for its war against Ukraine: private firms, targeted Telegram ads, and phone numbers bought for as little as 12 cents apiece

An iStories correspondent went undercover at Voevoda, a private company operating in Russia's booming military recruitment market, which the outlet says functions like multi-level marketing. Enlisters, called recruiters, can reportedly earn millions of rubles for bringing people into the army.

The investigation found that recruiters use targeted Telegram advertising and purchase phone numbers for as little as 12 cents apiece to identify and reach potential recruits.

The reporting outlines a commercial infrastructure built around Russia's wartime payments for enlistment, turning recruitment into a for-profit sales operation.

The full dispatch is available from the source below.