The Kremlin has ordered the regions of Russia to draft 409,000 contract soldiers by the end of the year, sources say, reports the Financial Times.

According to them, to implement this program, the Russian authorities have increased pressure on local officials, while trying to avoid announcing a new wave of mobilization.

The new contract soldiers being drafted are mainly used not to form ready reserves, but to make up for the casualties at the battlefield, adds the Financial Times.

The current pace of Russia's military offensive remains low, despite regular attempts to increase the number of troops, DW reports.