'5 year wages to go and fight in Ukraine'
Russians are no longer eager to participate in Putin's war. In an effort to still find soldiers, the Kremlin is firmly pulling out its wallet.
For example, authorities in several Russian regions have announced significant increases in salaries and bonuses paid to Russians who volunteer to fight in Ukraine.
An appealing offer?
Through nearly 2.5 years of horrific fighting, many Russians have died in its war against Ukraine. To replenish those ranks now requires money, lots of money. To convince Russians, gigantic signing bonuses and salaries are promised. For example, the Khanty-Mansiysk region in northern Russia announced in early October that it is paying a record annual salary of 5.27 million rubles (about 50,000 euros, or more than five times the average Russian annual salary) to anyone who joins to go fight on the front lines. The signing bonus was even set at 2.7 million rubles (about 25,400 euros). Astronomical amounts for the common man on the Russian street! And recruits are also being sought in other regions. In October, the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, announced that it would increase the signing bonus to 3 million rubles (28,200 euros) - up from 800,000 rubles earlier - for those who signed their contracts before Jan. 1. Then again, in the Moscow region, posters have been advertising an annual salary of 5.2 million rubles since July.
Enough pennies to become cannon meat?
(SR for Tagtik/Source: Euro News - Reuters - Belga/Photo: Pixabay)