Russia doubles military pay and bonuses to lure recruits for Ukraine operation

A 225,000-ruble starting salary and million-ruble bonuses reveal Russia's desperate push to fill its ranks. But will money alone sustain the war effort?

, and Administrator

2026 March 13 . 10:02 AM

2 min read

The image shows a poster with text, logos, and pictures of three Russian FSB officers, along with a... — The image shows a poster with text, logos, and pictures of three Russian FSB officers, along with a QR code. The text reads "Reward of Up to $10 Million" and the QR code is located at the bottom of the poster.

Russia doubles military pay and bonuses to lure recruits for Ukraine operation

Russia has expanded financial incentives for servicemembers involved in its special military operation. Monthly salaries now start at 225,000 rubles, with additional bonuses for combat achievements. Regions like Khabarovsk have also increased one-time payments to attract recruits.

Contract soldiers deployed in the operation zone receive a base salary of 225,000 rubles per month. Those joining newly formed units, including drone warfare troops, qualify for the same pay. Benefits extend beyond wages, with life and health insurance, job security during service, and debt relief of up to 10 million rubles.

Combat bonuses can push annual earnings as high as 7 million rubles. Destroying strategic targets—such as bridges, warehouses, or rail hubs—earns a 300,000-ruble reward. Larger payouts come for high-value targets: 500,000 rubles for taking out an Abrams, Leopard, or Challenger tank, and 300,000 to 500,000 rubles for shooting down aircraft, HIMARS launchers, or Tochka-U missile systems. The Khabarovsk Territory has doubled its regional one-time payment for reserve citizens, foreign nationals, and stateless individuals signing a one-year contract. The payment rose from 1 million to 2.1 million rubles. Combined with federal bonuses, new recruits in the region now receive over 2.5 million rubles upfront. Participants and their families also access 46 support measures, including legal aid, psychological counselling, and additional financial benefits. Since the operation began in February 2022, at least 40 Russian regions have introduced similar incentives. Moscow offers up to 2 million rubles, while St. Petersburg provides 1.9 million rubles. Other areas, such as Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, and Chechnya, have followed with their own payment schemes.

The expanded financial packages aim to boost recruitment and retention for the operation. With higher salaries, combat bonuses, and regional support, servicemembers now face stronger economic incentives. These measures reflect a broader trend across Russia, where local and federal authorities have increased funding for military personnel since 2022.