Tatarstan Offers $1,400 Incentive for Recruiting Military Contractors to Fight in Ukraine

Authorities in Tatarstan have promised residents of the republic a payment of 100,000 rubles (approximately $1,400) for "each recruit invited to join the contract service."

This offer, as noted by Russian media, is posted on a special website created for recruiting residents of the republic for military service.

The announcement, published on July 9, states that candidates for contract service can be invited by friends and relatives, employees of military enlistment offices and administrations, as well as "any individuals who have brought the candidate."

Initially, recruiters were promised 50,000 rubles (approximately $700), but two days later, the reward amount doubled, according to Russian media.

The publication asserts that this "campaign" is advertised by state media, public pages in Tatarstan, websites of district newspapers, and administrations.

At the beginning of July, the authorities of Tatarstan increased the one-time payment for signing a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense to 500,000 rubles (approximately $6,900), totaling 1,05 million rubles (around $14,460). Russian media "Govorit NeMoskva," which tracks regional payments to contract soldiers, reported that with all payments considered, a person deciding to sign a contract in the republic could receive up to 1,5 million rubles (around $20,670) at once.

It’s been reported that in the first half of 2024, Tatarstan suffered losses in the war that were 18% higher than in 2022 and 2023. The region ranked fourth after Krasnodar, Bashkortostan, and Sverdlovsk region in terms of the highest number of casualties due to the war. On average, Tatarstan loses 50 people per week.

In a similar practice, Russian authorities coerced thousands of migrants and foreign students into joining Russian troops, threatening African students and young workers with visa non-renewal unless they enlist. Reports by Ukrainian intelligence also showed mercenaries from Nepal deserting from the Russian army, facing extrajudicial executions for refusing to carry out orders, as well as non-payment.