Russian Regions Boost Sign-On Bonuses for Contract Soldiers Amid Growing Financial Demands of War

Authorities in at least five regions of Russia have significantly increased sign-on bonuses for contract soldiers after reducing them to the federal minimum at the end of last year, according to the exiled news outlet 7×7 on Wednesday.

Since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has heavily depended on contract recruitment, offering competitive monthly salaries and substantial one-time bonuses to entice volunteers. The federal minimum sign-on bonus is set at 400,000 rubles (around $4,500), though many areas have offered much higher sums.

Back in October, the republics of Tatarstan, Chuvashia, and Mari El, alongside the Samara and Orenburg regions, had lowered their bonuses to match the federal minimum due to increased budgetary pressures from escalating war-related expenditures.

Nonetheless, these five regions have now reinstated and even raised their bonuses for contract soldiers, with some amounts reaching several times the federal minimum.

For instance, Chuvashia has reinstated its one-time payment to 2.1 million rubles ($26,800), which, when combined with the federal bonus, totals 2.5 million rubles. Tatarstan increased its bonus to 2.5 million rubles as well.

In the Samara and Orenburg regions, bonuses have been raised to 1.1 million rubles and 1 million rubles, respectively. In Mari El, known as one of Russia’s least affluent regions, the bonus has been elevated to 2.1 million rubles.

Regional officials have not provided any specific reasons for reversing the previous cuts, instead presenting the increases in terms of national pride and highlighting government support for service members.

Without an official rationale, it appears that authorities may be attempting to keep contract service appealing financially amid ongoing personnel needs, especially as hopes for a resolution to the war in Ukraine through U.S.-facilitated negotiations have diminished.

President Vladimir Putin has ordered the military to increase active personnel numbers to 1.5 million by 2026. Officials stated that Russia recruited 417,000 contract soldiers in 2025.