Moscow Offers Debt Relief to Draw Recruits for Ukraine War

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree offering debt relief of up to 10m rubles ($140,000) to new soldiers who sign contracts to fight in Ukraine.

The measure applies to people who signed a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry from 1 May, as well as their spouses, if legal claims to recover the debt were already in force before that date.

The Kremlin said contracts to join what Moscow calls its “special military operation” must run for at least one year. The measure is part of a wider package of incentives designed to attract more soldiers to the military.

According to the Russian real estate database Cian, the amount is roughly equivalent to the price of a small studio apartment in Moscow. Russia has also used recruitment bonuses, preferential access to universities and other social benefits for soldiers and their families.

Putin also signed a separate decree indefinitely extending the right to lease state land for soldiers deployed in Ukraine.

(reuters, max)