Moscow Offers Residents $21,000 Signing Bonus to Join Army for War in Ukraine

Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin issued a decree on July 23 introducing a one-time signing bonus of $21,200 (1.9 million rubles) for city residents who enlist in the military.

According to Sobyanin's office, with this bonus included, a Moscow resident joining the army could earn over $58,600 (5.2 million rubles) during their first year of service.

Additional benefits include compensation ranging from $5,600 to 11,200 (500,000 to 1 million rubles) for injuries sustained in service, and families of soldiers killed in action are reportedly eligible to receive $34,000 (3 million rubles).

The mayor's office also highlighted other benefits available to family members. In contrast, Russia's federal statistics service, Rosstat, reported an average monthly wage of approximately $735 (65,000 rubles) across the country as of June 2023. Considering the signing bonus, a Moscow resident could potentially earn $4,800 per month (433,000 rubles) in their first year of military service.

This move underscores a recurring strategy of offering higher incentives to attract new recruits, highlighting the persistent recruitment crisis faced by Russia.