Authorities in at least five regions of Russia have significantly increased sign-on bonuses for contract soldiers after having reduced them to the federal minimum late last year, according to the exiled news source 7×7, reported on Wednesday.
Since the onset of its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has placed a strong emphasis on recruiting contract soldiers by offering attractive monthly salaries and substantial one-time bonuses to entice volunteers. The federal minimum sign-on bonus stands at 400,000 rubles (approximately $4,500), but many regions have been offering much more generous amounts.
In October, the republics of Tatarstan, Chuvashia, and Mari El, as well as the Samara and Orenburg regions, cut their bonuses down to the federal minimum due to regional budgets being strained by increasing expenditures related to the war.
However, this month, these five regions have reinstated and even increased bonuses for contract soldiers, with some bonuses reaching multiple times the federal minimum.
For instance, Chuvashia has reinstated a one-time payment of 2.1 million rubles ($26,800), which, combined with the federal bonus of 400,000 rubles, totals 2.5 million rubles. Tatarstan has also raised its bonus to 2.5 million rubles.
In Samara and Orenburg, payments have been increased to 1.1 million rubles and 1 million rubles, respectively. In Mari El, which is known to be one of the poorer regions in Russia, the bonus was lifted to 2.1 million rubles.
Regional officials have not provided a specific reason for reversing last year’s cuts, instead framing the increases in terms of patriotism and highlighting state support for military personnel.
Without an official rationale, it is possible that authorities are trying to maintain the financial attractiveness of contract service in light of ongoing personnel needs, especially as prospects for a swift end to the war in Ukraine through U.S.-facilitated negotiations appear to be dwindling.
President Vladimir Putin has tasked the military with increasing active personnel to 1.5 million by 2026. Officials have indicated that Russia recruited 417,000 contract soldiers in 2025.
