**Russia Raises Pay to Lure Recruits**
Russia is struggling to get new volunteers for its military. To fix this problem, the government has increased the money it pays to people who sign up.
In some regions, Russia is now paying over 2 million rubles ($23,800) to people who join the military for the first time. In one region called Samara, recruits can get almost 4 million rubles ($47,600).
The main goal of this new recruitment drive is to find people who are struggling financially or easily influenced by propaganda.
**Why Is Russia Doing This?**
A group called Military Intelligence (HUR) says that Russia’s government has to do this because it’s hard to fill military units. The government is trying to make the job of joining the military look more appealing.
**How Much Does an Average Russian Get Paid?**
In 2024, the average monthly wage in Russia was around 87,700 rubles ($1,044). To join the military for the first time now, people can get almost as much money as they would earn in a year.