Putin Signs $140,000 Debt Write-Off for New Recruits as Russia Seeks 1.5 Million Troops
Updated
Updated · The Moscow Times · May 26
Putin Signs $140,000 Debt Write-Off for New Recruits as Russia Seeks 1.5 Million Troops
10 articles · Updated · The Moscow Times · May 26
Up to 10 million rubles ($140,000) in unpaid debt will be canceled for Russians who sign at least a one-year military contract after May 1, 2026, with the benefit extended to spouses.
The law adds a fresh financial lure for service in Ukraine as the Kremlin tries to raise troop numbers without repeating the politically costly 2022 partial mobilization of about 300,000 reservists.
Russia has already paired high military salaries with sign-on bonuses—400,000 rubles federally and often more from regions—to sustain recruitment.
That push supports Putin's 2024 order to expand active personnel to 1.5 million by 2026; officials said 417,000 contract soldiers were recruited in 2025.
As Russia cancels debts to attract soldiers, can financial perks outweigh the risk of joining a military with 1.3 million casualties?
Russia's new law authorizes military intervention to protect citizens abroad. Which neighboring country is most at risk from this new policy?
Russia's economy is all-in on the war, but its army is losing ground. How long can Putin fund a failing military strategy?