Russian regions increasingly offering financial incentives to bolster third-party enlistment in military

At least nine Russian regions are now offering financial incentives to residents who recruit friends and family to enlist in the Russian military to fight in Ukraine, Russian investigative news outlet Verstka reported on Monday.

The referral scheme, which was initially reported in Tatarstan and the Yaroslav region, has now been rolled out in the regions of Arkhangelsk, Kaluga, Ivanovo; the republics of Yakutia and Mordovia; and the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous region in an attempt to bolster flagging enlistment in the Russian military.

According to Verstka, the authorities in the Bryansk region and the republic of Udmurtia are also considering implementing a similar referral scheme offering financial incentives for those who help to recruit and bring in volunteers.

The “finder’s fee” for those who persuade new recruits to enlist differs from region to region, ranging from just from 5,000 rubles (€50) in Mordovia and Kaluga to 25,000 rubles (€250) in the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous district, and 50,000 rubles (€500) in Tatarstan.