Camilla Jessen
“Everyone who wanted to earn money from the war already has,” recruiters say
Even as recruitment bonuses soar to unprecedented levels, enlistment across Russia has stalled.
Payments keep rising
Russia’s once-lucrative recruitment drive is faltering.
Despite offering massive cash incentives, the Kremlin is no longer able to significantly increase the number of new recruits, according to reports from the independent Russian outlet Idel Realii, cited by Focus.de.
Volunteers are disappearing
Recruitment office employees told the outlet that even record-breaking signing bonuses are failing to attract fresh volunteers for the war in Ukraine.
“Everyone who wanted to earn money from the war has already signed up,” one recruiter reportedly said.
Record signing bonuses fail to boost enlistment
In several Russian regions, enlistment offers have reached extraordinary levels.
In the Khanty–Mansi Autonomous Region, signing bonuses of up to 3.2 million rubles (about €34,000) are available.
In the Sverdlovsk Region, new volunteers have been offered nearly €33,000 since March 2025.
€5,000 increase every three months
Despite these payouts, recruitment numbers remain stagnant.
Analysts say average bonuses have increased by more than €5,000 every three to four months — yet without noticeable results.
“Earn millions before peace comes”
In the Irkutsk region, officials have even launched a new recruitment campaign promising huge financial rewards with the slogan:
“Earn millions before peace comes.”
The ads were reportedly aired ahead of the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, suggested the war could soon be over.
Enlisters with chronic illnesses
However, local recruitment office staff told Idel Realii that turnout remains low.
“Those who do come are often very old or suffering from chronic illnesses,” one source said, describing recruitment centers in Siberia.
Putin’s growing dilemma
The slowdown poses a serious challenge for Vladimir Putin, who relies heavily on financial incentives to sustain the war effort.
With casualty numbers climbing, the Russian army increasingly sends newly enlisted men straight to the front lines to replace heavy losses.
But as the pool of willing volunteers dries up, this strategy may no longer be sustainable.
Putin’s two options
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank, noted that declining mobilization could soon leave Putin with two politically risky options:
- Forced mobilization of unwilling conscripts; or
- Negotiating an end to the war.
Recruitment fatigue sets in across Russia
Reports from multiple regions indicate a growing sense of “war fatigue.”
Many Russians, especially in poorer or rural areas, have already seen friends or family members killed or wounded in Ukraine, diminishing enthusiasm for joining.
This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, which may have used AI in the preparation
