Desperation?

This is coolbert:

Surely it cannot be this bad?

From the English tabloid Daily Star ^ | 5 APR 2022 | the story by Jerry Lawton 

"Vladimir Putin recruiting 'Dad's Army' of oldies to prop up creaking Ukraine invasion"

"Desperate Vladimir Putin is recruiting a Dad’s Army of old folks to prop up his creaking Ukraine invasion. The Russian army has put out an SOS for volunteers aged up to 60 after sustaining heavy losses during the disastrous six-week campaign. The military wants ex-soldiers nearing retirement age to rejoin in the Siberian cities of Chelyabinsk and Tyumen, according to Russian media. Moscow desperately wants old tank commanders, snipers and engineers."

"Dad's army: The [English] Home Guard consisted of local volunteers otherwise ineligible for military service, either because of age (hence the title Dad's Army) or by being in professions exempt from conscription."

Regarding Chelyabinsk alone from the wiki:

"Under the Soviet Union, Chelyabinsk became a major industrial centre during the 1930s. The Chelyabinsk Tractor Plant was built in 1933. During World War II, the city was a major contributor to the manufacture of tanks and ammunition."

"Chelyabinsk remains an important industrial centre, especially heavy industries such as metallurgy and military production"

Middle-aged and older men not suitable for combat. War is a game for young men. These volunteers I would suspect sought after more than likely for their knowledgeable in the maintanenance, operation and repair of armored vehicles.

coolbert.