What's happened
On November 24, 2024, President Putin signed legislation allowing recruits to erase up to 10 million rubles in debt by signing a one-year military contract. This move aims to bolster troop numbers amid significant combat losses in Ukraine, reflecting Russia's ongoing recruitment challenges.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Business Insider UK, the new legislation allows recruits to write off debts of up to 10 million rubles, a move that highlights Russia's urgent need for military personnel as combat losses mount. Samya Kullab from The Independent notes that this strategy aims to avoid another mobilization order, which previously led to mass exodus among Russian men. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) emphasizes that while North Korean troops have bolstered Russian forces, the long-term sustainability of this strategy remains questionable, as high casualties continue to challenge Russia's military efforts.
How we got here
The new legislation follows a series of recruitment incentives introduced by Russia to address troop shortages in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Previous measures included substantial financial bonuses for recruits, as the military seeks to avoid another unpopular mobilization.
More on these topics
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.
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North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia constituting the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in