Russia offers record reward for recruiting foreign fighters

Russia has increased to 1.5 million rubles, approximately 15,400 euros, the reward granted in the Irkutsk region to people who help foreign citizens or stateless persons sign military contracts with the Russian army. The measure was established by a decree signed at the beginning of this week by the region’s governor, Igor Kobzev.

The amount is almost four times higher than the previous maximum reward of 400,000 rubles, which had been in effect since at least April. The decree also doubles the payment for recruiting Russian citizens registered outside the Irkutsk region, from 400,000 to 800,000 rubles.

Similar increases have also been announced in other regions. The Smolensk region raised the reward from 115,000 to one million rubles, while Ryazan increased some payments to 805,000 rubles.

The decisions are being made in the context of Moscow’s efforts to attract new troops for the war against Ukraine. In April, Ukrainian authorities estimated that nearly 30,000 citizens from 136 countries were serving in the Russian army. Amnesty International accused Russia of practices that, in some cases, may constitute human trafficking, through false promises regarding jobs, salaries, or the acquisition of citizenship.