Over 100,000 Russians signed contracts to join armed forces this year, ministry says

More than 100,000 people have enlisted for military service under contract in the Russian armed forces this year, the defence ministry said in a statement.

It said that over the last week, most of those enlisting said they wanted to avenge the victims of the March 22 concert hall shooting near Moscow that killed at least 144 people.

The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility but Russia says the perpetrators were linked to Ukraine, something Kyiv has repeatedly denied.

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