Moscow residents to receive one-time payment equivalent to nearly $22,000 for joining the Russian army

Moscow residents are set to receive a one-time payment of 1.9 million rubles ($21,777) upon signing a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry, according to the city’s administration. Mayor Sergey Sobyanin signed the related decree.

The administration clarified that this payment will be available to those who pass selection starting from July 23, 2024. Moscow officials also confirmed that they will maintain all previously established support measures for Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, including a monthly payment of 50,000 rubles ($573) to Moscow-based servicemen.

“The total amount of payments to a contract serviceman (taking into account monthly salary and Moscow and federal support measures) will exceed 5.2 million rubles ($59,599) for the first year of service,” the administration stated.

The Russian government paid soldiers and their families between 2.75 trillion and 3 trillion rubles ($31 billion–$33.9 billion) in salaries and compensation between July 2023 and June 2024, according to the policy group Re:Russia. This is equivalent to 1.4–1.6 percent of the country’s expected GDP in 2024, as well as 7.5–8.2 percent of its federal budget expenditures for this year.