Across the country, regional authorities are increasing payments for one-time services to military volunteers and contract staff.
The Institute for the Study of War reports that the Kremlin plans to take a major initiative to increase the number of Russian veterans of the war in Ukraine who hold prominent positions in local and region governments.
Russian continues to encourage volunteers to fight against Ukraine. ISW reported earlier that Russia would allocate $948 million in one-time payments for individuals signing military contracts from 2025 to 2027. This suggests that the Kremlin will continue to rely on ongoing crypto-mobilization to meet its manpower requirements for its war against Ukraine for the near future.
According to Russian sources quoted on 7 October, Sergei Kiriyenko (Deputy Head of the Russian Presidential Administration) has promised President Vladimir Putin at least 50 Russian war veterans of the Ukraine will become regional governors and mayors through the “Time of Heroes Veteran Reintegration Program” by 2026.
Moreover, Russian regional authorities are increasing their efforts to encourage contract recruitment in order to support cryptomobilization efforts. Vyacheslav gladkov, the head of Belgorod oblast, announced on 7 October that one-time payments to Russian military volunteers and contract staff will increase to 3 million rubles ($31,103) by 31 December 2024.
This significant increase in the one-time payment is part of a larger trend among Russian regional officials. ISW reports that the Kremlin is “continuing to lean on its struggling voluntary recruitment efforts to avoid a future wave of partial mobilisation”.
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