# Ukraine kills record Russian troops as Putin uses gangs

> Ukraine reports record Russian military losses as Putin resorts to criminal gangs for enlistment.
- Title: Ukraine kills record Russian troops as Putin uses gangs
- Summary: Ukraine reports record Russian military losses as Putin resorts to criminal gangs for enlistment. Ukraine's military claims Russia lost 46,000 soldiers in…
- Keywords: ukraine, russian troops, putin, criminal gangs, enlistment, military casualties, donbas, crimea, sbs drones, unmanned systems forces, iran, fuel shortages
- Source: EUobserver — https://euobserver.com/242547/ukraine-killing-record-number-of-russian-troops-as-putin-resorts-to-using-gangs-to-boost-enlistment-ukraine-battlefield-update-day-1692
- Published: 2026-10-13T15:47:16+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ukraine, russian troops, putin, criminal gangs, enlistment, military casualties, donbas, crimea, sbs drones, unmanned systems forces, iran, fuel shortages
## Ukraine Battlefield Update
Ukraine publishes daily figures for killed and wounded russian soldiers.
## Russia's military recruitment drops
Russia is estimated to recruit 10 percent fewer soldiers this year than last despite signing bonuses rising.
## Criminal gangs in recruitment
Local criminal gangs now involved in recruiting volunteers for russian army with agents receiving $4,500 per recruit.
## Nizhny Tagil case
Prosecutor in nizhny tagil city complained about increased crime from signing bonuses leading to gang recruitment.
## Recruitment numbers drop
Nizhny Tagil recruited 580 new soldiers last year compared with 330 this year.
## Ukraine's military losses
Ukraine reports russia lost 46,000 soldiers in september making it the second-worst month since war began.
## October losses expected
By october 12th russia lost an average of 1,620 soldiers per day suggesting record month for casualties.
## Ukrainian drone strikes
Ukrainian unmanned systems forces report destroying russian radars and other military equipment.
## Fuel transport issues
Russia now transports fuel in jerry cans using passenger cars and small trucks instead of convoys.
## Crimea bridge destroyed
Ukraine destroyed chonhar bridge connecting to crimea with russia using pontoon bridge instead.
## Putin's deadline
Putin's deadline to capture donbas by end of year will not be met despite previous attempts.
## Iran fuel speculation
Iran may be supplying russia with fuel as part of a deal with the united states.
## Equipment losses
Russia lost 24,192 pieces of heavy equipment by tuesday with 19,155 destroyed by ukraine.
## Record military losses
Ukraine reports russia's military losses could become the worst month in october.
## Key takeaway

Ukraine's military claims Russia lost 46,000 soldiers in September, with October potentially becoming the worst month for Russian casualties.