The clip promotes military service while focusing on religious diversity and national unity
The Russian Defense Ministry has released a promotional video designed to encourage citizens to enlist in the military, placing strong emphasis on different ethnicities and religious denominations coming together to face a common enemy.
The 90-second clip released by the ministry on Friday depicts a fierce battle, apparently between Russian and Ukrainian forces. On a sweltering summer day, several Russian soldiers are seen ducking into a trench under artillery fire, with one making the sign of the cross and saying an ‘Our Father’ prayer in front of a small Orthodox icon of St. George – one of the most venerated figures in Christianity, often associated with victory on the battlefield.
The next clip shows a tank crew member reading a Muslim prayer. At the same time, another service member – apparently a Buryat or Yakut sniper – reads a Buddhist mantra with prayer beads beside him. Nestled inside a building in a ruined city, he aims his rifle and fires a single shot.
While also reading an Orthodox prayer, a Russian infantryman, besieged in a house and wearing a silver cross around his neck, throws a grenade at several enemies advancing on him. Then, a Russian armored column is seen rolling through the countryside with a caption reading, “We are [ ]. God is with us” – with the blank space filled with the names of two dozen major ethnic groups – including Ukrainians – that populate Russia.
“We are Russians. God is with us. Prayer is not just words, it is a powerful force. Be with the strong, be with us, join your comrades,” the ministry says, publishing information on how to enlist.
While Russia announced partial mobilization in the autumn of 2022, calling up around 300,000 reservists to cover the 2,000km front line with Ukraine, officials in Moscow have since resisted new conscription efforts, saying manpower needs are being met by a steady stream of patriotic volunteers.
The Defense Ministry said last month that some 190,000 contract soldiers had joined the military in 2024 alone, and estimated that around 1,000 people were signing contracts every day. Last December, the ministry put the total number of contract soldiers at 640,000.
