- Putin doubles special pay for war effort
With more money, the Russian leadership aims to attract more volunteers for their attack on Ukraine. Those who sign a contract for frontline duty between August 1 and December 31 will receive a one-time payment of 400,000 rubles (around 4,200 euros), according to a decree signed by President Vladimir Putin.
This is more than double the previous payment of 195,000 rubles. Additionally, they will receive a monthly salary that is significantly higher than the average Russian income.
Russia has been relying heavily on financial incentives to recruit soldiers for the war since the controversial mobilization of reservists in the fall of 2022. Many regions offer cash bonuses for signing contracts.
Regions are offering special bonuses for military service
For example, Moscow set a one-time bonus of 1.9 million rubles (about 20,300 euros) for contracts lasting one year or more this month. Several regions have increased their special payments in recent weeks to compete nationally in recruiting new fighters.
In St. Petersburg, the one-time amount is 1.8 million rubles, in the Rostov region it's 1.2 million rubles, and in the Sverdlovsk region in the Ural Mountains, it's the Kremlin-recommended minimum of 400,000 rubles.
Posters in Moscow and other Russian cities are encouraging frontline service, often displaying the attractive sums. With many people in rural areas earning little, military service is seen as a relatively easy way to quickly earn a significant amount of money by Russian standards.
The Ministry of Defense announced this month that 190,000 Russians have signed contracts for military service since the beginning of the year. The forced mobilization of reservists in the fall of 2022 sparked protests and an exodus abroad. The power structure is now trying to solve the personnel shortage for the front with money.
The ongoing War of aggression in Ukraine has led Russia to rely on financial incentives for recruiting soldiers, offering significant bonuses and salaries. In an effort to attract more volunteers, regions like Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Rostov offer one-time payments of up to 2 million rubles for extended contracts, making military service an attractive financial opportunity for many.
