Summary and Top Line Points: The Russian military is experiencing significant casualties in Ukraine, prompting the Kremlin to offer substantial bonuses to recruit new soldiers and crack down on deserters.

-The government has increased the one-off bonus payment for enlisting to nearly $19,250 and is implementing measures to prevent draft evasion.

-This comes as Russia faces a shortage of new recruits and relies heavily on conscription and alternative forces like mercenaries. Daily losses remain high, with estimates of over 560,000 casualties in about 900 days of conflict.

-The Russian military is taking so many casualties in Ukraine that it is now offering thousands of dollars in bonuses to entice men to sign up. At the same time, it is cracking down on deserters.

Bonuses and the Draft in the Ukraine War 

Although the Kremlin has shown a remarkable force generation capability, the Russian military is starting to feel a shortage of new recruits. For example, the Russian government increased the one-off bonus payment for joining the fighting in Ukraine to 1,700,000 rubles, or almost $19,250.

The increase is bonus payment coincides with a new system that aims to prevent people from escaping the draft.

“The Russian Government is developing a system to prevent potential draftees to the Russian military from leaving the country,” the British Military Intelligence assessed in its latest estimate of the war.

Last week, independent Russian media reported the implementation of a new communication agreement between the Federal Security Service (FSB), an intelligence organization similar to the FBI, and the Russian Ministry of Defense. The agreements will allow the sharing of information between the two organizations to prevent potential conscripts from fleeing the country.

“Hundreds of thousands of Russians left the country after the announcement of a partial mobilization in 2022 and these were disproportionately concentrated among the young and highly educated, causing knock on effects to the labour market,” the British Military Intelligence added.

During one of the first waves of mobilization back in September 2022, it is estimated that more than one million military-age Russian men escaped the country to avoid getting shipped to Ukraine to fight the Kremlin’s war.

“The implementation of this system is likely intended to prevent a smaller scale repeat of this during the annual draft cycle, and in the event of a further wave of mobilization,” the British Military Intelligence concluded.

The Russian military relies on two annual conscription drafts to fill up its ranks. Each draft draws into service approximately 250,000 men, who then go on to serve one year of compulsory military service. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has tried not to directly include draftees in the fighting, understanding the potential backlash of too many coffins of young Russians coming home. Instead, he has relied on a combination of mercenaries, men from the old Soviet republics, Chechens, and ex-convicts to man his illegal invasion of Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the Russian military continues to take heavy losses every day. Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense estimated that the Russian forces lost 1,100 men killed, wounded, or captured, as well as 57 tactical vehicles and fuel trucks, 45 unmanned aerial systems, 44 artillery pieces and multiple launch rocket systems, 36 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, 13 main battle tanks, and 8 pieces of special equipment.

Overall, the Kremlin has lost more than 560,000 men in about 900 days of fighting, which averages to about 625 losses every day. That is a very high casualty ratio, and it will only increase as the fighting continues.

About the Author

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense and national security journalist specializing in special operations. A Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), he holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University, an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). He is pursuing a J.D. at Boston College Law School. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

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