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[POLITICS] · Russia, Ukraine · 4 sources

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Russia uses high financial bonuses to recruit soldiers for Ukraine war

Russia is attempting to offset military losses in the war against Ukraine by using high financial incentives to attract volunteers and contract soldiers, rather than initiating a new mass mobilization. The Kremlin seeks to avoid the political risks associated with a large-scale draft, which previously led to hundreds of thousands of Russians fleeing the country in 2022.

In certain Russian regions, signing a military contract can yield bonuses of up to 22,000 euros, a sum significantly higher than the average annual income. Additionally, the recruitment process has expanded to include individuals with outstanding criminal records.

While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested that Vladimir Putin plans a rapid mobilization of hundreds of thousands of people by the end of the year, Russian officials, including Security Council Deputy Dmitry Medvedev, have dismissed such claims as provocations. However, experts note that the current reliance on volunteers and contract soldiers may be reaching its capacity to replace frontline casualties.

Entities

Dmitry Medvedev · Russia · Ukraine · Vladimir Putin · Volodymyr Zelenskyy

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