"5kg Fish Gift Upon Enlistment" Russia Offers 'Free Fish' as Military Enlistment Incentive

Providing Fish and Food Supplies to Families of Enlistees in Poor Russian Regions such as Sakhalin and Tuva Republic

On the 5th (local time), Russian reservists mobilized under a partial mobilization order participated in military training conducted in Vladimir Oblast near the capital, Moscow. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jung-wan] As Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a partial mobilization order for reservists, it has been reported that in some regions of Russia, "free fish" and other incentives have been offered to families of conscripts.

According to the British daily The Times on the 5th (local time), Mikhail Shvavrov, the regional representative of the United Russia Party in Sakhalin, Russian Far East, announced that the Sakhalin regional government decided the day before to provide families of conscripts with flounder, pollock, salmon, and other fish.

He stated, "The Sakhalin regional government and the fisheries industry agreed to allocate about 9 tons of fresh frozen fish as (conscription incentives)," adding, "About 180 volunteers will soon deliver 5 to 6 kg of fish to households with soldiers mobilized for the war."

This is not the first time Russia has offered goods such as foodstuffs as conscription incentives. Previously, the Tuva Republic, an autonomous republic within the Russian Federation located in Eastern Siberia, was also known to be providing one sheep, coal, 50 kg of flour, and two sacks of potatoes to families with members participating on the Ukrainian front.

Criticism has also arisen that such food incentives reveal the reality of poverty in these regions. Russian political analyst Anton Barbashin criticized the offering of food as conscription incentives, saying it starkly exposes the poverty experienced by Russian residents. He added, "This is basically saying, 'If you take your husband, you will have food for a few weeks.'" Sakhalin and the Tuva Republic are considered among the impoverished regions within Russia.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February this year, the prolonged war has caused many casualties, leading to a shortage of troops. In response, President Putin issued a partial mobilization order last month targeting reservists to replenish forces, but many conscription candidates have fled abroad. The New York Times (NYT) and others reported that more than 200,000 Russians have crossed borders to escape since the mobilization order was issued.