Putin doubles enlisting cash for meat grinder soldiers

With an estimated number of casualties of half a million since February 2024, Vladimir Putin has big troubles in convincing fellow citizens to sign up for the battle fields in Ukraine.

On July 31, the ruler in Kremlin therefore signed a new decree doubling the one-time payment to men willing to die in war. Putin’s decree says one-time payment will also be given to anyone being mobilized to the Armed Forces and for foreign citizens signing up.

Everyone who put his signature on a contract with the Armed Forces before December 31 receives 400,000 rubles, up from 195,000 rubles. 

In addition, regions are encourage to add a sum on top of federal payments. Like in Moscow, where young men now are offered 1,9 million rubles if signing a contract of at least one year.

Government controlled newspaper Kommersant has made an interactive map detailing how much additional sign-up cash each region provides. 

In Russia’s northwest; Murmansk region provides 495,000 rubles, Arkhangelsk region and the Republic of Karelia 295,000 rubles. Komi Republic and Nenets Autonomous Okrug both give 495,000 rubles extra. 

The Barents Observer’s Russian edition has previously told about contract soldiers that are forced to stay longer in the war zone than the one year they originally signed up for. Also soldiers injured in the war have been forced back to the battle-fields against their own will.