Surge in Russians enlisting to avenge Crocus City Hall attack

Since the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, the desire to join the Russian military has seen a "significant increase," with many wanting to avenge the victims of the assault.

The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed on Wednesday that there had been a notable rise in individuals seeking to sign up for military service following the terrorist incident in Krasnogorsk.

Over the past 10 days, about 16,000 individuals have enlisted in the military through contracts, with an average of 1,700 people heading to recruitment offices daily, as reported by the Russian portal Meduza.

By law, conscripts cannot be deployed to combat zones outside the nation's borders. They were exempt from the 2022 mobilization, which saw at least 300,000 men mobilized to participate in the conflict in Ukraine.

Over the past week, several individuals have been seen at selection centers. Many disclosed during interviews that their reason for enlisting was to seek vengeance.

"The desire to avenge those who perished in the March 22, 2024 tragedy in the Moscow region is the primary motivation for most candidates signing the contract," the Russian Ministry of Defense shared in a statement.

On March 22, terrorists targeted the Crocus City Hall concert hall in Krasnogorsk, near Moscow, opening fire on attendees and detonating explosives. This led to a fire and the subsequent collapse of the building's roof, claiming the lives of at least 144 individuals.

The terrorist group ISIS-K has taken responsibility for the attack at Crocus City Hall, making the claim shortly after the event.

Despite lacking concrete evidence, Russian authorities assert that Ukraine is to blame, a claim that Kyiv has denied - as reported by the portal Meduza.