Ukraine war: This is how Putin wants to send new soldiers to the front

According to a new law, anyone who volunteers in Russia for a mission in the conflict in Ukraine will benefit from debt relief of up to ten million rubles (around 92,000 euros). Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a corresponding law on Saturday, the government announced. This exempts everyone who signs a one-year contract for deployment in the army after December 1st from existing debts.

The Russian army is having difficulty recruiting new soldiers after the conflict has lasted almost three years – experts say the new law will be a major incentive for future fighters. Those for whom a confiscation order was issued before December 1st can benefit from this. Parliament had already approved the law on Tuesday.

The new regulation is aimed primarily at younger Russians of military age, as they are more likely to be in debt. In Russia, interest rates on loans are extremely high and many Russians have almost no savings. Most people go into debt to buy homes. According to a Central Bank report, over 13 million Russians have taken out three or more loans.

The new regulation applies to those called up for national military service, as well as fighters mobilized for the so-called special military operation in Ukraine, activist Sergei Krivenko explained. So far there has only been the option of deferring repayments.

Although conscripts cannot be sent to the front, they can sign a contract to join the professional army and then fight in Ukraine.

The Russian authorities are “strengthening the motivation” to sign such a contract, wrote political scientist Georgi Bowt on the Telegram online service. The new law offers hundreds of thousands of people the opportunity to get rid of their credit burden, emphasized Bowt.

Russian soldiers serving at the front are already paid well above average.

Ukraine also has laws that allow soldiers to receive preferential loans and, in some cases, debt relief.