Russia’s Irkutsk region has sharply increased financial incentives for recruiting foreign nationals into the country’s military, offering up to 1.5 million rubles (around Rs 16 lakh) for each foreign citizen or stateless person recruited to fight in the war against Ukraine.According to The Kyiv Independent, which cited independent Russian outlet Vyorstka, the new payment was established in a decree signed earlier this week by Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev. The payment is reportedly the highest reward offered by any Russian region for recruiting foreign nationals into the military.Irkutsk has offered financial incentives for recruiting contract soldiers since at least April. Previously, recruiters could receive up to 400,000 rubles (around $4,700). The latest increase means the maximum payment for recruiting a foreign national has risen almost fourfold in seven months, Vyorstka reported.The new decree also creates a separate category for foreign nationals and stateless people for the first time. Meanwhile, the payment for recruiting Russian citizens who are registered outside Irkutsk Oblast has been doubled from 400,000 rubles to 800,000 rubles (around $9,500).
Russia turns to foreign recruits
The increase in Irkutsk comes as Russian regions step up recruitment incentives amid Moscow’s continuing need for manpower in its war against Ukraine.Other regions have also raised payments for those helping recruit soldiers. Smolensk Oblast increased its recruiter payment from 115,000 rubles (around $1,300) to 1 million rubles (around $11,900), while Ryazan Oblast has raised some recruitment payments to 805,000 rubles (around $9,500).The growing incentives also come amid increasing evidence that Russia has sought to bolster its military ranks with foreign nationals, particularly people from lower-income countries.The recruitment drive comes as fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues to intensify. Russia has stepped up its air campaign against Ukraine in recent weeks, with ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones being used in attacks across the country. Ukrainian officials have also reported Russian strikes near the border with Poland.At the same time, Ukraine has continued targeting Russian oil and industrial infrastructure with long-range strikes. US President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop attacks on Russian diesel facilities, saying they were contributing to a global fuel shortage.The developments come as both sides continue to suffer casualties and infrastructure losses, while Moscow seeks additional manpower for its more than four-year-old invasion of Ukraine.
