MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin has ordered a signing bonus of 400,000 rubles ($4600) for new recruits joining the fight in Ukraine, signaling a push to bolster Russian troop numbers amid rising battlefield losses.
A presidential decree published on Wednesday offers this lump sum to anyone who signs a military contract for at least one year from August 1 until the end of 2024. This new bonus is more than double the 195,000 rubles promised to recruits in September 2022.
The decree also “recommends” that regional governors provide an additional 400,000 rubles to residents in their regions who enlist.
These increased payments are intended to “provide additional measures of social support” for soldiers and their families, according to the document. This move comes as regions across Russia have already been increasing financial incentives for new recruits.
Currently, the minimum monthly salary for contract soldiers in Russia is 210,000 rubles ($2,407), which is significantly higher than the average monthly income of 73,000 rubles ($837). These lucrative payments are especially appealing to working-class men in economically struggling communities.
In addition to bonuses, regional governments are offering other incentives, such as free childcare and travel for soldiers’ families. Experts suggest that these rising military payments and benefits reflect a manpower crisis in Russia as public interest in the war wanes, now in its third year.
Although Russia conscripted around 300,000 reservists in September 2022, the Kremlin has been reluctant to launch a full-scale mobilization campaign due to its unpopularity.
Russia’s military keeps casualty numbers in Ukraine tightly controlled, but independent investigations estimate that around 120,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the full-scale invasion began.
