All Russians who sign a contract with the military will receive an upfront payment of 400,000 rubles (about $4,651). The decree also recommends that local governments pay at least the same amount from their budgets.

While the minimum monthly salary for a soldier participating in a “special military operation” is 204,000 rubles, the new decree raises the annual minimum salary in the first year to 3.25 million rubles (about $37,791).

Monthly salaries for officers are higher and depend on rank. All recruits also receive additional money for participating in attacks or destroying enemy tanks and machinery.

These increases make the minimum annual salary of Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine more than three times higher than the average salary in Russia.

These payments help Russia avoid a nationwide mobilization after a difficult 2022 campaign.

Russian officials say about 190,000 people have volunteered to fight in Ukraine this year, compared with 490,000 contracts signed for 2023.

Hong Hanh (according to CNA, Reuters)