Saratov Region Dramatically Reduces Military Recruitment Bonuses

The Saratov region in southern Russia has recently become the latest federal area to cut enlistment bonuses for soldiers entering military contracts, with one of its major districts reducing payments even more, according to reports published on Wednesday.

Last week, Orenburg and Saratov became the fifth and sixth regions to decrease military contract bonuses from a minimum of 2 million rubles to the legal minimum of 400,000 rubles (approximately $5,000).

This amount aligns with the minimum suggested by President Vladimir Putin for regional governments to offer new recruits last year, with the federal government typically matching this payment.

Earlier this year, other regions such as Belgorod, Samara, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, and the Republic of Bashkortostan also reduced army contract bonuses to no less than 1 million rubles.

The outlet 7×7 discovered that a recent decree from the Engels district in the Saratov region has cut municipal bonuses from 400,000 rubles to 150,000 rubles ($1,850) for soldiers committing to contracts between November 1 and December 31.

These municipal bonuses are distinct from regional payments, though they are occasionally intended to supplement the amounts soldiers already receive from regional or federal authorities.

While local officials have actively promoted the previous increases in payments through media campaigns, the recent cuts have largely gone unnoticed, only coming to light after the official decrees were posted on government websites.

Activists who assist Russian men in evading military service previously informed 7×7 that they believe these reductions are linked to new policies permitting those in pretrial detention to enter military contracts.

Since the onset of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, regional administrations had been offering substantial enlistment bonuses to entice volunteers amid rising casualties on the battlefield. However, numerous regions have since scaled back these incentives in response to financial constraints on their budgets.