The shortage across Russia’s security services
Russia is facing a severe shortage of police officers and prison guards as a byproduct of its ongoing war economy. Official data and reporting highlight regional gaps where a third of the required police staff are missing, and in some areas, up to half of vacancies remain unfilled. In 2022, the interior minister warned that Russia was short by about 90,000 police officers; by the end of the following year that gap had swollen to roughly 170,000. The security service responsible for prisons reports a similar strain. While numbers vary by region, the trend is clear: the demand for law enforcement has not kept pace with the pull of alternative employment, especially those tied to Russia’s arms industry and military expansion. SRF correspondent Calum MacKenzie notes that the shortage is not isolated to one sector but ripples across civil defense and nearly every corner of the economy.
Why recruitment is faltering
A central driver is the war economy that has reoriented labor supply toward the military and defense industries. The state offers higher salaries for soldiers and invests heavily in weapons manufacturing, presenting attractive alternatives to police and jail staff. As a result, many potential recruits—or former officers—prefer roles in arms factories or the armed forces. The shortfall in security services is felt most acutely in civilian protection, but it touches virtually all sectors of the economy, from maritime security to public order logistics, according to reporting from Russia.
Morale, pay, and disillusion
Evidence of demoralization is evident in online forums and public chatter among security personnel. Officers report feeling undervalued, noting that a policeman’s pay is dramatically lower than that of soldiers—nearly four times less in some cases. This wage gap compounds a broader sense of being sidelined from the national effort. The consequence is not only attrition but a susceptibility to corruption. Last year, numerous police officials and rank-and-file officers were arrested, underscoring a perception that authorities are taking corruption seriously only when visibility is high. Public opinion polls increasingly frame police as ineffective, arbitrary, or corrupt, further eroding morale within the ranks.
Regional efforts to lure recruits
Some Russian regions have tried to make policing more attractive by raising monthly bonuses. Ironically, the funds for these incentives come from the same budget that is used to increase soldier pay in an effort to divert labor toward the army. The result is a paradox: cash boosts in one part of the system are funded by the same pool that competes with police for talent elsewhere. While these measures may provide short-term relief in some locales, they do not address broader systemic issues—wages, career prospects, and measures to combat corruption—that influence long-term retention.
What the shortages mean for safety and governance
The consequences are tangible: stretched police and prison staff struggle to maintain public order, screen and manage detainees, and respond effectively to emergencies. When up to half of positions sit vacant in some regions, response times suffer, investigations are slowed, and prisons face administrative burdens that risk safety and humane treatment. Public trust is further eroded as officers feel pressured to perform under-resourced conditions while facing higher expectations from a wary population.
Outlook: reforms needed for stability
Experts argue that sustainable reform will require a comprehensive approach: competitive, transparent compensation; clearer career paths and training; stronger anti-corruption safeguards; and a labor market that values the essential role of police and prison staff even as the country continues to invest in its military and defense industry. Without such reforms, the current trajectory—a war-driven economy pulling talent away from law enforcement—could persist, leaving public safety and civil order vulnerable to the pressures of a protracted conflict.
