Russia is using large financial incentives to recruit soldiers for its war in Ukraine, offering signing bonuses, monthly salaries, and substantial compensation to families of those killed. In poorer regions such as Buryatia, the influx of military money is reshaping local economies, boosting spending and property prices while also creating social tensions.
Wow – the old Russian tradition of using provincial (and non-Russian) populations as cannon-fodder is alive and well… #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/zaN2rfmWR1
— Roger Moorhouse 🇬🇧🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@Roger_Moorhouse) February 27, 2023
The system has helped sustain recruitment as Russia continues the war, but it comes with significant costs, according to The Wall Street Journal. Buryatia has suffered thousands of military deaths, while communities face rising living expenses and an economy increasingly dependent on wartime payments. Experts warn that if the war ends, losing this money could trigger an economic downturn in regions heavily reliant on military compensation.
