After Cutting Payments, Russia Raises Enlistment Bonuses to Boost Recruitment

Russian uthorities in at least five regions have significantly increased enlistment bonuses for contract soldiers after previously slashing them to the federal minimum late last year, Russian media outlet 7x7 reported on January 14.

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has leaned heavily on contract soldiers, luring recruits with elevated monthly pay and large one-off bonuses. While the federally set minimum sign-on bonus stands at $4,500, many regions have historically offered substantially higher sums.

According to the outlet, in October, the republics of Tatarstan, Chuvashia, and Mari El, as well as the Samara and Orenburg regions, reduced their payments to the federal baseline, citing pressure on regional finances caused by growing war-related expenditures.

That trend has now reversed. This month, all five regions reinstated higher bonuses for contract soldiers, in some cases raising them to several times the federal minimum.

In Chuvashia, the one-time regional payment was restored to roughly $23,600, which, combined with the federal bonus, brings total upfront compensation to about $28,100. Tatarstan raised its enlistment bonus to approximately $28,100, 7x7 reported.

In the Samara and Orenburg regions, bonuses were increased to around $12,400 and $11,250, respectively. In Mari El, one of Russia’s poorest regions, the payment was boosted to roughly $23,600.

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According to The Moscow Times, riegional officials have not provided specific explanations for reversing last year’s cuts, instead presenting the increases as patriotic measures and highlighting state support for those joining the armed forces.

Earlier, it was reported that Russia intends to enlist about 67,000 additional contract soldiers in 2026 to bolster formations within its Southern Military District.

According to the report, a substantial share of the planned recruitment is expected to be drawn from Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories. Moscow has reportedly assigned enlistment quotas by region, including more than 3,500 recruits from occupied Crimea, about 750 from Sevastopol, roughly 530 from occupied parts of the Zaporizhzhia region, and around 300 from occupied areas of the Kherson region.

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