Vladimir Putin's X-rated bid to recruit soldiers for war

Russia's pro-Kremlin private army has taken to advertising for troops on Pornhub.

Yahoo News Australia and agencies
·2-min read

A reportedly desperate Vladimir Putin has taken to advertising on Pornhub in a bid to persuade Russian men to join his war against Ukraine.

An advert from the country’s Wagner mercenary group, a pro-Kremlin private army founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin — a close ally of Putin who is dubbed his “chef” — has gone viral since first being spotted on the popular porn website this week.

The commercial, which features a blonde woman twirling a lollipop in her mouth, urges men to stop watching porn and start fighting and was shown to Russian users before they viewed explicit content on the Canadian-owned site.

Putin's private army Wagner's advert on pornhub. Blonde woman sucking on lollipop.
Putin's private army Wagner advertised for Russian soldiers on Pornhub. Source: East2West/Australscope

In the advert, a woman’s voice can be heard telling male viewers: “We are the coolest f***ing private army in the world.

“We are recruiting fighters from all regions of Russia. Don't whack off, go and work for Wagner [private military company].” At the end, a phone number for Wagner appears on the screen.

Pornhub said on Friday the commercial had now been “deleted” because “political advertising is prohibited on the site”.

Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin with Putin.
A phone number for the Wagner mercenary group, a pro-Kremlin private army founded by Yevgeny Prigozhin (right), appeared at the end of the commercial. Source: East2West/Australscope

The strategy of recruiting via multiple explicit sites was backed by Mr Prigozhin, who reportedly said “placing ads for Wagner PMC on porn sites is a very good idea from our marketers”.

“I absolutely completely agree with them, and this ad says: ‘Go to war, stop ****ing off.’ Who does not agree with this argument?”

Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin serving food to Putin. Source: East2West/Australscope
Yevgeny Prigozhin is a close ally of Putin. Source: East2West/Australscope

Wagner loses tens of thousands of fighters

The private army is seen as leading Russia’s assault on Bakhmut in Ukraine but it has lost tens of thousands of fighters, including many prisoners recruited from jails.

This week has seen signs of desperation concerning Russian recruitment for the war. Female prisoners have reportedly been sent to the front lines for the first time to fight in Putin military operation.

Putin has already deployed convicted murderers and rapists from male penal colonies in his desire to wipe the Ukraine off the map.

A battalion named Española comprising football hooligans — classed as a separate pro-Putin private military company — is also boosting recruitment.

Australscope

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