War in Ukraine: Vladimir Putin cancels the debts of new recruits to go to the front

• Vladimir Putin signed a law on Monday erasing the financial debts of recruits engaged for the war in Ukraine.
• A new example of the Kremlin’s incentives to recruit soldiers.

The Kremlin is ready to do anything to incite Russian citizens to fight in Ukraine. President Vladimir Putin signed a law on Monday erasing financial debts for new recruits.

The new law offers debt forgiveness of up to 10 million rubles (around 120,000 euros) for those who signed a contract with the army from May 1, 2026, if their debts were already in the process of legal recovery. This law also provides for possible cancellation of the debts of the spouse of the person signing the contract.

A minimum commitment

According to this text, the new contract must be signed for a minimum period of one year and involves participation in the “special military operation”, the term used by the Kremlin to designate its offensive in Ukraine.

For more than four years, Russia has stepped up initiatives to strengthen the ranks of its army. For example, it offers attractive salaries and social benefits to people who sign up. The Kremlin also strives to offer social advancement to fighters returning from the front, by giving them top jobs in Russia.

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