Moscow Offers $23K Bonus to Military Recruits, First-Year Pay Reaches $60,000

Jul 23, 2024, 01:57 PM

The Russian military and Moscow authorities have introduced significant financial incentives to attract new recruits for military service. The Russian Ministry of Defense is offering a bonus of $1,150 for individuals who bring a friend to sign a contract. Additionally, Moscow residents who sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense will receive a one-time signing bonus of 1.9 million rubles (almost $22,000), bringing their total first-year compensation to over 5.2 million rubles ($59,599). This move is part of a broader effort to address the manpower shortage in Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The Mayor of Moscow, Sergey Sobyanin, signed a decree on July 23, 2024, to implement these payments. The annual pay for contract soldiers in their first year will now be around $60,000, significantly higher than the average wage in Russia.