"If You Enlist, We'll Erase 130 Million Won Debt"...Desperate Putin Offers Another Incentive

Desperate Efforts to Secure Troop Resources for Special Military Operation

The Russian government has proposed to forgive the 'debts' of newly enlisted recruits. This is interpreted as a desperate measure to secure even a small amount of the dwindling manpower resources.

On the 23rd (local time), Russian news agency TASS and others reported that starting from next month on the 1st, the Russian Ministry of Defense plans to forgive up to 10 million rubles (about 130 million KRW) of debt for new recruits participating in the country's 'special military operation.'

Russian soldiers conducting casualty rescue training. Photo by Yonhap News

Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 but has not officially declared 'war.' Instead, the Russian government currently considers itself to be conducting a special military operation, and the recruited new soldiers are regarded as having signed a 'contract' with the Ministry of Defense. Debt forgiveness is said to be available only for recruits who have signed a long-term contract with the Ministry of Defense for at least one year.

Without issuing a mobilization order, Russia is offering large sums of money to soldiers to recruit as many troops as possible. Citizens living in the capital, Moscow, will receive a total of 5.2 million rubles (about 70 million KRW) in their first year of service upon enlistment.

On the 22nd (local time), a Russian was exchanging currency at an exchange office in Moscow, Russia. The electronic board displayed that dollars are bought at 100.5 rubles and sold at 103.5 rubles. Photo by Yonhap News.

Meanwhile, it was reported that President Vladimir Putin also signed a bill on the same day banning the promotion of a childless life. This policy is part of Russia's low birthrate countermeasures, and once the bill is enacted and implemented, any public media content or advertisements portraying a childless life attractively or opposing childbirth will be completely banned in Russia.

Additionally, President Putin approved a bill prohibiting citizens of countries that allow gender transition from adopting or obtaining custody of Russian children.

Meanwhile, as the war prolongs, the Russian government's national debt is rapidly increasing. To curb soaring inflation, the central bank raised the benchmark interest rate to 21%, increasing the debt repayment burden on both citizens and companies. For example, Russia's state-owned company 'Russian Railways (Yerzede)' is reported to have its interest repayment amount balloon to 7 billion dollars (about 10 trillion KRW) next year alone.