Putin Expands $3,800 Sign-Up Bonus to National Guard Enlisting to Fight in Ukraine

Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced that the 400,000-ruble ($3,800) sign-on bonus, initially offered to new military recruits, will now also apply to National Guard personnel signing up for service in Ukraine.

According to Putin’s decree, the bonuses are expected to be available to individuals who sign a one-year or longer contract with the Russian National Guard between August 1 and December 31, 2024. However, cadets currently enrolled in National Guard or Defense Ministry training programs are excluded from eligibility.

Putin’s directive revises a July order that initially introduced the payments to address troop shortages. Alongside federal incentives, numerous Russian regions provide additional financial bonuses, which have grown over time in response to declining enlistment rates.

At the beginning of October, authorities in Russia's Belgorod region were offering a record one-time payment of 3 million rubles ($31,200) to those who sign military contracts to fight in Ukraine.