Official announcements from the Russian Ministry of Defense or credible news sources like Reuters or BBC

Putin Doubles Sign-Up Bonuses for Ukraine War Recruits, Moscow Offers 5,200,000 Rubles

Jul 31, 2024, 08:37 AM

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a significant increase in sign-up bonuses for new recruits willing to join the war in Ukraine. The federal bonus has been doubled to 400,000 rubles (approximately $4,600), and many regions are offering even higher incentives, with Moscow city providing up to $24,000. Recruits from the Moscow region will receive as much as 5,200,000 rubles. This move comes amid growing battlefield losses and a struggle to meet recruitment targets. Additionally, at least ten Russian regions have introduced referral schemes, offering up to $1,100 per recruited soldier. The increased payouts, more than double the sum initially promised in September 2022, are now comparable to those offered by the US military. Russian soldiers could earn nearly as much as Putin in the Ukraine war.