Russia forms a new 18,000-man corps of Wagner mercenaries for front-line operations in the Ukraine war. The first representatives are in the Avdiivka region, as part of the first mercenary volunteer corps.
Recruitment efforts are underway for a six-month contract for Ukraine, as well as a nine- months contract for African states. The volunteer corps could be an increase for the Russian army in order to avoid another controversial wave of recruitment in Russia before the Russian election.