GUR: Some regions of Russia cut payments to contract recruits

In several subjects of the Russian Federation, local one-time payments to those who sign a contract with the occupying army have been drastically reduced. This was reported to by The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense.

The reduction in payments is taking place against the backdrop of a growing federal budget deficit and deepening financial problems in the regions. Because of this, Russia is forced to save even on the main resource of its war – "cannon fodder," the DIU stated.

According to intelligence, in Bashkiria, the amount of such payments fell from 1.6 million to 1 million rubles, in the Yamalo-Nenets District – from 3.1 million to 1.9 million, in the Belgorod Region – from 3 million to 800,000 rubles, in the Nizhny Novgorod Region – from 3 million to 1.5 million rubles.

The GUR stated that in a number of regions, payments are increasing. Thus, in Tatarstan, the bonus was increased to 3.1 million rubles, in the Ryazan region they promise to pay 1 million rubles more, and in Kabardino-Balkaria, the amount was increased from 1.5 million to 1.8 million rubles.

"Thus, a 'caste system' is being formalized in Russia, in which the lives of citizens of different regions are assessed differently," the report says.

The intelligence service claims that in January-July 2025 alone, the Russian budget deficit reached $61 billion, which is almost four times higher than the original plan of $14.6 billion. The main reasons are the fall in oil and gas revenues, the failure of tax plans, and the rapid growth of military spending.

• On May 26, the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service stated that Russia's total mobilization resource is 25 million people. But the actual number of trained people is 3 million.
• On July 11, intelligence reported that an average of 1,200 people sign a contract with the Russian army every day. This makes it possible to recruit more than 30,000 soldiers every month. This rate is ensured by high lump sum payments, a large-scale information campaign and social guarantees from the state.