Saratov Region Imposes Deep Cuts to Military Recruitment Bonuses

The Saratov region in southern Russia has recently become the latest federal entity to decrease enlistment bonuses for soldiers entering military contracts. According to reports, one of its most populated districts has made even more significant cuts to these payments.

Last week, Orenburg and Saratov became the fifth and sixth regions to lower military contract bonuses from a minimum of 2 million rubles to the legal minimum of 400,000 rubles (approximately $5,000). This amount aligns with the minimum that President Vladimir Putin suggested regional authorities should offer to new recruits last year, with the federal government typically matching this sum.

Earlier in the year, other regions, including Belgorod, Samara, the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, and the Republic of Bashkortostan, had already reduced military contract bonuses to a minimum of 1 million rubles.

The news outlet 7×7 discovered that a decree from the Engels district in the Saratov region announced last week reduced local bonuses from 400,000 rubles to 150,000 rubles (about $1,850) for soldiers who enlist between November 1 and December 31.

These municipal bonuses are distinct from regional payments but are often intended to enhance what soldiers receive from either regional or federal sources.

While local authorities extensively publicized the initial increase in payments through media campaigns, the recent cuts have been largely overlooked, only coming to light after the decrees appeared on official government platforms.

Activists assisting Russian men in evading military service previously informed 7×7 that they believe these reductions are linked to new regulations permitting individuals in pretrial detention to sign military contracts.

Since the onset of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, regional governments have provided substantial enlistment bonuses to draw volunteers, responding to mounting casualties on the battlefield. However, as regional budgets have come under pressure, several areas have had to retract these incentives.