Russian defense officials are struggling to meet military recruitment targets as bonuses for new enlistees rise and eligibility standards decline, according to an investigation by DER SPIEGEL.
Internal documents and interviews with regional recruitment officers show that monthly signing bonuses for contract soldiers have increased to as much as 400,000 rubles in some regions, up from 190,000 rubles earlier in the year, in an effort to compensate for persistent shortfalls in enlistment numbers.
At the same time, medical and age requirements are being relaxed across multiple oblasts, with recruits previously disqualified for conditions such as hypertension, prior surgeries, or age over 40 now being accepted after abbreviated examinations.
Recruitment offices in Sverdlovsk, Rostov, and Voronezh regions have reported difficulty filling quotas despite relaxed criteria, prompting local commanders to redirect resources toward outreach in vocational schools and rural job centers.
The Ministry of Defense has not publicly addressed the changes in recruitment standards or bonus structures, and no official statement has been issued regarding adjustments to enlistment procedures.
