The Kremlin has been implementing various creative measures to boost its troops without officially declaring another mobilization amid Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. These measures include increasing payments to potential soldiers and offering substantial financial incentives, such as one-time payments and monthly salaries. Russian regions have been looking for ways to address the need for fresh troops on the front line, with some doubling one-time payments and offering significant sums to those who sign military contracts.
In addition to financial incentives, the Russian military has also been using advertising campaigns to target new recruits. Regions like Tatarstan have held TV marathons promoting military service, promising unprecedented support and payments to those who join the army. Military service promotion has also been integrated into public events and holidays to attract individuals to sign military contracts. At least 51 Russian regions have increased payments for signing military contracts since the start of the conflict in Ukraine.
Some regions have launched military recruitment campaigns that allow people to earn bonuses for referring acquaintances to sign military contracts. This ‘refer a friend’ scheme has been implemented in nine Russian regions, with individuals in Voronezh being promised bonuses for each person who signs a military contract. The increasing bonuses for signing military contracts indicate a shortage of individuals willing to serve in the military, pointing towards a rising need for additional troops on the front line.
Economist Tatyana Mikhailova analyzed search engine requests for military service and found that the effect of raising payments for soldiers is modest, with search traffic increasing by about 12% initially before returning to normal levels. Mikhailova noted that searches for information about contract service start to decline as early as five weeks after the payments are increased. The economist argues that the rapid increase in bonuses for signing military contracts suggests that there is a shortage of individuals willing to serve in the military, leading to the need for these incentives.
The Moscow Times highlighted the various methods the Kremlin is using to entice Russians to sign military contracts, including increased payments, advertising campaigns, and ‘refer a friend’ schemes. The government is offering significant financial incentives, with some regions doubling one-time payments to potential soldiers. The Russian military has been actively promoting military service through TV marathons, public events, and holidays to attract new recruits. Additionally, regions have implemented schemes that allow individuals to earn bonuses for referring acquaintances to sign military contracts.
Despite these creative measures to boost troop numbers, the increasing bonuses for signing military contracts reflect the ongoing manpower crisis in Russia. The Kremlin is facing challenges in attracting individuals to join the military, leading to the use of incentives to entice new recruits. with rising financial incentives and recruitment campaigns, the government is striving to address the need for fresh troops on the front line without formally declaring another mobilization amid the conflict in Ukraine.
