Russian President Vladimir Putin decreed the conscription of an additional 147,000 soldiers on Thursday. That number is an increase of 9% over last year’s spring conscription decree.

This conscription order centers on the standard yearlong military service that most Russian adult men are expected to provide. Still, the increase in recruitment underlines the continuing struggle of Russian forces to advance in Ukraine. Whether or not the new conscripts are actually sent to Ukraine, their tours of service are unlikely to be rewarding. And there’s no question that Putin needs bodies to fill the ranks of his increasingly depleted ground forces.