The Moscow city government announced Tuesday that newly enlisted contract soldiers will receive an extra one-time payment of 1.9 million rubles ($21,783) amidst Russia’s manpower shortage in the war on Ukraine.
Moscow’s mayor’s office confirmed that existing support measures for soldiers and their families will remain, with total payments for a contract soldier amounting to over 5.2 million rubles ($59,616) in the first year of service.
With an estimated 120,000 Russian soldiers killed since the invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin is increasing military payments to attract new recruits.
Contract soldiers in Russia currently earn a minimum monthly salary of 210,000 rubles ($2,407), appealing to men in economically distressed areas. Regional governments also provide bonuses and incentives like free childcare and travel for soldiers’ families.
Despite conscripting 300,000 reservists in September 2022, the Kremlin is avoiding a full-scale mobilization campaign due to its unpopularity.