There are no volunteers to fight for free. Regions are competing to see who can pay their contract soldiers the most.
According to official data, over 100 Russian citizens from across the country have enlisted in the military contract for combat operations in Ukraine in the first four months of 2024. Putin's press secretary, Peskov, noted that these figures are "further evidence of the high degree of internal mobilization in our society and the consolidation around President Putin and the tasks set within the framework of the Central Military District."
However, in reality, these figures have a different, and very prosaic, explanation. Money. Let's count them.
The average salary in Russia is significantly lower than the monthly payment from the Ministry of Defense to contract soldiers fighting in Ukraine. according to Rosstat In 2023, the average salary of a Russian citizen was 73 rubles, but in more than fifty of the country's 83 regions, it did not exceed 60 rubles. The monthly salary in the so-called "SVO" zone is Today 210 thousand rubles.
In addition to federal payments and benefits for participants in the war with Ukraine, Russian regional authorities are also providing additional one-time cash payments and social support measures.
Conscripts serving in the military are also being lured with large sums of money. They were allowed to sign contracts after just one month of service in the Russian Armed Forces last year.
In Tatarstan, for example, conscripts who signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense, will pay one-time 505 thousand regional incentives.
In some regions of the Russian Federation, incentives for war participation reach hundreds of thousands or even millions, while in others, where funds for incentives are scarce, they come up with more cost-effective incentives, such as free admission to zoos and cultural events, and exemptions from kindergarten fees and transport taxes. Children of war veterans are also entitled to free school meals, recreational camps, admission to vocational schools and universities, and much more.
Last year, "NeMoscow" analyzed Regional payments to contract soldiers and mobilized troops heading to fight in Ukraine. Almost a year has passed since then, and we're returning to this topic. We'll show how one-time regional incentives have changed in 83 regions of the country.
What is due to everyone
Let's start with the concepts of "contract soldier" and "volunteer." The line between them was already quite blurred last year.
NeMoscow wrote that contractor — someone who signs a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense and commits to fight until the end of hostilities. These were essentially career military personnel.
А volunteersAs explained on regional government websites, "unlike mobilized and contract soldiers, they were not considered military personnel." The volunteers' service was limited to the duration of their contract. The minimum term of such a contract was one year.
This year, these two categories have effectively merged, and anyone who signs a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense is now called a contract soldier. Although some regions still use the term "volunteer," regional payments for these two categories are virtually identical. A contract has an expiration date. Conscripts are a different matter. These "defenders" have been called to war by the state. They will fight until the end of the "SVO."
Today conclude a contract Citizens of the Russian Federation or foreigners over 18 years of age, who have basic general education and are fit for military service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, are eligible.
When concluding a contract for military service signed no earlier than September 21, 2022 and for a period of at least one year, a one-time (federal) payment of 195 rubles is due.
Contract soldiers serving in the war with Ukraine receive pay commensurate with their rank and position. For example, the minimum monthly pay for a private in a special military operation zone is 204 rubles, for a squad leader 232 rubles, and for a deputy platoon commander 242 rubles.
These payments are due to everyone. And the one-time allowance from the Ministry of Defense hasn't changed since last year, which can't be said about payments in the regions.
Where payments increased the most
The undisputed leaders in terms of the payment itself and its percentage increase are: Karachay-Cherkessia, Saint Petersburg, Krasnodar Krai, Kabardino-Balkaria, Rostov, Voronezh, Leningrad, Astrakhan, Nizhny Novgorod regions, Adygea and Primorsky Krai.
In Karachay-Cherkessia, regional payments were raised just recently. The head of the republic Rashid Temrezov announced an increase in the one-time incentive for "SVO" participants to 1,3 million rubles. Previously, contract soldiers in the region received only 100 rubles. Karachay-Cherkessia, a republic with a population of 434, was among the regions in Russia where those wishing to sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense received one of the lowest incentives in the country.
By his decision, Rashid Temrezov increased the pay for contract soldiers by more than 13 times.
В Krasnodar region, the reward has increased from 100 thousand last year to 1 million. The incentive has increased tenfold. Payments laid down contractors and volunteers.
"This is another step in supporting our guys who will defend the country's interests on the front lines. We are also maintaining over 30 existing support measures for the families of SVO participants. Caring for them is our top priority," the governor of Kuban wrote on his Telegram channel.
On Monday, June 17, the payment was raised and in Kabardino-Balkaria. Government of the Republic reported on increasing the amount of payments to contract soldiers to 805 thousand.
In my hometown Fishing season St. Petersburg for participation in the war pay 1,105,000 rubles. However, the bonus has been increased, and now they pay 600,000 rubles more than in 2023 (it was 500,000 rubles). Benefits include free travel for minor family members of SVO participants, exemption from parental fees for kindergarten, and vouchers for children's camps.
В Rostov region Spending on military personnel going to war has increased sevenfold. Governor Vasily Golubev announced this on April 1. set A one-time payment of 700 rubles has been awarded to those who sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense in the Rostov Region for a year or more. Last year, this amount was 100 rubles. An additional 300 rubles has been allocated to members of the named unit, for whom the total payment will now be 1 million rubles. The regional payment for mobilized and conscripted personnel has also been increased from 100 to 300 rubles if they sign a contract.
В Nizhny Novgorod the areas at the conclusion of the contract became pay 500 thousand.
In Leningrad regions for contract soldiers pay 505 thousand rubles, last year they paid 300 thousand.
В Adygea financial incentives for contract soldiers is 500 thousand. Such payments, in the amount of half a million, появились this year in another region, in Astrakhan regions, but Adygea demonstrated a significant leap – incentives increased more than threefold.
In addition, the mayor's office Maykop (the capital of Adygea) pays contract soldiers compensation in the amount of 50 thousand rubles for the purchase of tactical military uniforms, equipment, and property.
В Astrakhan region last year they paid 250 thousand. In Tatarstan recently too raised Payments of up to half a million rubles. Thus, no other region in Russia pays more than the aforementioned leaders in lump sum payments.
There are five more regions where they pay 400 thousand, this is Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Bryansk, Sverdlovsk, Irkutsk regions и Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.
В Sverdlovsk The region's payment was increased at the beginning of this week, on June 17, and increased It's four times the amount. Previously, the payment in the region was one hundred thousand.
В Bryansk и Irkutsk payment areas increased doubled, from 200 to 400 rubles. In the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, in addition to the one-time payment, participants in the "SVO" get and also 150 thousand for every two months of service;
Average payment amount
Most regions in which the authorities will pay a fee of between 310 and 200 rubles when concluding a contract with the Ministry of Defense. Yaroslavl region will pay 310 thousand, в Tverskaya и Chelyabinsk at 305.B Volgograd and Tomsk regions, Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Buryatia, Komi, and Novgorod region and in a number of other regions pay Today 300 thousand rubles.
They are introducing additional “lifting” and cities, for example in Kazan, In addition to the regional payment, they will also receive a city payment of 200 rubles. The republic, which is among the top regions for payments to contract soldiers, will fully equip new recruits with the necessary equipment, protective gear, and technical devices, totaling 50 rubles.
Incidentally, a volunteer from any region of Russia who signs a contract in Tatarstan can receive a regional payment. This opportunity is also being mentioned in Rostov region"These funds will be available to those who signed a contract in the Rostov Region, regardless of their place of residence or registration," the Governor of the Rostov Region emphasized in his announcement of the increase in the regional payment to 700 rubles.
255 thousand rubles pay в Tula и Smolensk region, 250 in each Lipetsk, Vladimir, Oryol, Omsk regions, Kalmykia and Mari El. Meanwhile, in the Tula, Vladimir, and Oryol regions, they paid 100 rubles last year. Regional payments there have increased two and a half times. In another ten regions, contract soldiers are paid between 205 and 200 rubles. These include the Moscow, Novosibirsk, Tyumen, and Ryazan regions, Stavropol Krai, Kamchatka, and Ingushetia. It's not much. But they used to pay even less; in many of these regions, payments have doubled.
Where they pay the least and don't pay at all
The group of regions with the least financial motivation is in the payment range from 150 to 50 thousand rubles. In the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Samara, Magadan regions and Chuvashia pay 150 thousand each Kurgan region will pay 120, in Ulyanovsk - 105.
100 thousand each get contractors from Kaliningrad, Kaluga, Vologda regions. From the border Belgorod and Kursk regions, as well as from Dagestan, Republic of Tyva and a number of other regions will pay 100 thousand.
In six regions of Russia they will pay 50 thousand. This Ivanovo, Kostroma, Orenburg, Saratov areas, Udmurtia и Khakassia.
At the same time, in Khakassia (50 thousand contract soldiers); Dagestan (100 thousand); Tuva (100 thousand), North Ossetia (100 thousand to contract soldiers) Payments for war participants were introduced only this year.
Previously, regional authorities did not pay anything for participating in the war.
It should be noted that contract soldiers leaving North Ossetia for war receive approximately 300 rubles, in addition to the money received from the republic's government, as well as payments from municipalities and businesses.
There is also a region in Russia with monthly payments This is Moscow.
In the capital, the price of war remains at the same level as last year - 50 thousand rubles, not a one-time payment, but a monthly salary. And if a soldier lasts a year at war, he can earn 600 rubles.
В Pskov, Kirov и Penza areas, as well as in Mordovia, Karelia, Jewish Autonomous Oblast и Chechnya Contract soldiers going to war will not receive anything from regional authorities.
It should be noted here that in Chechnya offers A payment is available for those who sign a contract with the Ministry of Defense and are sent to serve in the Akhmat special forces unit. However, this payment, amounting to 100 rubles, is not paid by the republic's government, but by the Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov Russian Special Forces. Service in the Akhmat unit is widely advertised in various regions of Russia, and many volunteers who were rejected from contracts in their home regions due to health reasons are sent to fight in Ukraine with the Akhmat unit.
Pskov region — one of the few regions where there is no punishment for participating in the war against Ukraine pay Not at all, even for injury. Although as recently as 2022, contract soldiers and mobilized soldiers from separate units received minimum payments of 50 and 100 rubles.
Governor of the Pskov Region Mikhail Vedernikov explains the refusal of one-time payments by the fact that they are an unaffordable amount for the region
«"They told me: introduce payments in September, introduce them in October. Okay, but what about those guys who've been there for a year and a half? Those who go now will get payments, but those who are still there won't? But if we do it, then everyone needs it. If we make payments of 100 rubles, no one will benefit. <…> If the regional budget provides for a payment of 250 rubles for a serious injury, that's 7 billion rubles for us, an unaffordable sum for the region.", Vedernikov said.
Instead of a cash payment, the region offers a package of benefits: money for additional gasification, exemption from transport tax, exemption from kindergarten fees, free holidays for children, and targeted assistance.
В Mordovia Lump sum payments have never been introduced. Assistance to military personnel and their families is limited to various benefits and payments for injuries—ranging from 500 to 1 million rubles.
В Kirov region Military personnel and their family members have the right to free admission to cultural and sports institutions, compensation for spa treatment, free meals for children at school, and payments for additional gasification.
В Penza region one-time cash incentive earlier paid military personnel who signed a contract in the named units before June 1, 2023. Now, as an alternative, Penza residents are offered free to visit The zoo and the V.G. Belinsky Central Park of Culture and Leisure are open to visitors. However, prior to this, war veterans and their family members must present a complete set of documents confirming their identity, military service, and relationship to the zoo ticket office.
In 59 of the 83 regions analyzed by NeMoskva, payments for participation in the war with Ukraine for those who signed contracts with the Ministry of Defense increased.
What will the mobilized soldiers be paid?
For those called to war by their homeland, the situation with monetary payments does not look as rosy as for those who signed contracts with the Ministry of Defense of their own free will.
The terms of service of contract soldiers are limited by time periods specified in the contract – 1 year, 3 years, or 5 years.
Those mobilized, as officials from the Presidential Administration and the Ministry of Defense have repeatedly stated, will serve in accordance with current legislation, or, more simply put, until the end of the “SVO”».
While someone who signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense in Kuban has a chance of receiving 900 regional payments plus 250 federal payments, fighting for a year, and staying alive, the chances of mobilized soldiers receiving either a large reward or staying alive are slim.
There is only one region in the entire country where mobilized soldiers will be paid 500 thousand today – this is Leningrad Region. 400 thousand each will get in two more regions – the leaders – Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and Chukotka Autonomous Okrug.
305 thousand will be paid in Tatarstan, 300 in Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrugby Sakhalin, and Buryatia.
250 thousands pay In the Tula region (last year there were 100), Lipetsk (50), Vladimir (100), Omsk (100), and Zabaykalsky Krai. Although the payments are small, it should be noted that in many regions, the monetary incentive has increased. For example, in Lipetsk Oblast, it has increased fivefold.
In five more regions pay mobilized at 200 thousand rubles each. This Irkutsk, Chelyabinsk, Kemerovo, Tyumen regions and KamchatkaLast year, mobilized soldiers in Kamchatka received 100,000 rubles, a doubling of the payment. In the Irkutsk and Tyumen regions, they received no payment at all, while in the Chelyabinsk region, they received 50, meaning the payment quadrupled.
In total, in 17 of Russia's 83 regions, mobilized soldiers receive payments ranging from 400 to 200 rubles. In the remaining regions, those called up by the state to fight will receive no more than 150 rubles.
In seven Russian regions, mobilized pay 150 thousand each – in Khabarovsk and Primorsky Kraisof the Tver, Magadan, Amur areas in Chuvashia и Jewish Autonomous Okrug.
В Kurgan Regional authorities will reward mobilized personnel with 120 thousand rubles.
In 20 regions of Russia, mobilized personnel will receive 100 rubles, and in another 11, 50 rubles. In Kabardino-Balkaria, the figure is 25. In the remaining 24 regions, no regional payments are provided for mobilized personnel.
Payments to mobilized personnel in forty regions of the country have not changed, in some they have remained at the same level, and in 14 regions there were no payments last year and they have not changed this year.
More deaths – less pay – worse life
If we compare the top Russian regions-outsiders in terms of war payments with the war mortality index (the number of deaths per 10,000 men aged 16 to 61 years – published in a joint Mediazone and BBC project), then we will see that they pay little there, but many die.
For example, in the region that is the leader in war mortality, Tuva (48.6 people per 10,000 men aged 16 to 61 years) contract soldiers are paid 100 thousand. It should be noted that in the quality of life rating (compiled annually) RIA News based on Rosstat data) The Republic of Tuva occupies the last, 85th place.
В Altai Republic, fourth place in mortality rate – 26,5, and 79th in standard of living – the payment is also 100,000. There are also no payments in regions with mortality rates from 17.5 to 16,2 – in Pskovth region (56th place in the quality of life ranking), and in Republic of Karelia (73rd place in the quality of life ranking).
In second place in terms of mortality in war, with an index of 36,7, is Buryatia. It should be noted that the contract soldiers' pay was increased this year, reaching 300 rubles, up from 200 last year. Buryatia also ranks in the bottom five in the quality of life rankings, coming in 81st. Third place in war mortality is occupied by Nenets Autonomous Okrug, they will also pay 300 thousand there.
The payment hasn't changed since last year. And in the quality of life rankings, the Nenets Autonomous Region is not far behind Tuva and Buryatia, ranking 75th.
Even the highest payment in those regions of Russia where the largest number of contract soldiers died, which is 300 thousand, is almost four times less than the payment in St. Petersburg (1 million 100 thousand). The mortality rate in the northern capital is 2,5. However, it ranks second in the quality of life rankings. Only Moscow has a lower rate – 1 in 1,000 people in the Russian capital dies in the war with Ukraine. Moscow pays 50,000 rubles monthly, but as we can see, Muscovites have a high chance of surviving more than 10 months during the war and receiving 600,000 rubles, as they do in leading regions. As you've probably already guessed, Moscow ranks first in the quality of life rankings.
The Moscow region also has a low mortality rate of 3,6. While the payments there might seem modest—205 rubles—there's a caveat: members of the named battalions will receive an additional 600.
The Moscow region also rounds out the top spots in terms of standard of living, ranking third.
Overall, the mortality rate is low in all regions leading in payments. In Karachay-Cherkessia, it's 5,5 (300 million rubles will be paid), in Krasnodar Krai, it's 8 (1 million rubles will be paid), and in Rostov Oblast, it's 7,3 (700 rubles will be paid).
Payments to contract soldiers going to war in Ukraine are being rapidly increased by Russian regional authorities. In the last ten days alone, while NeMoskva was updating its data before publication, updates were made in five regions. In the regions with the highest payouts, payments have been increased by seven, ten, and even thirteen times, as in Kabardino-Balkaria. Municipalities are also joining in to encourage those fighting in Ukraine; bonuses are now available not only from the region but also from the city, as in Maykop, the capital of Adygea; Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan; and Nizhny Novgorod.
Thus, the authorities, federal and regional, are trying to cover up the problem of "attrition," as the army's current newspeak refers to the deaths of soldiers in Ukraine, with money.
Judging by the rapidly growing figures for regional payments, the military brass, despite all their patriotic declarations, doesn't believe that Russian citizens are willing to lay down their lives for nothing. And contract soldiers, it seems, remain the only alternative to the mass mobilization that Moscow is so eager to avoid.
To collect the data, information was collected from the Telegram channels of Russian regional governors, local media websites, and the Garant legal reference system. The full data table can be found here. here.
We've been collecting information for a long time and understand that we may not have kept track of all the updates. Dear readers, we count on your help: if you notice an error, please contact us at @nemoskva_bot.
Please share this material with your friends: it is important to remember that the actions of the Russian authorities on the territory of Ukraine are of a colonial nature not only in relation to Ukraine itself, but also to the residents of the Russian regions that participate in the "SVO"».