Price of war for Moscow in money and killed soldiers, according to UK intelligence
Illustrative photo (Getty Images)
The war in Ukraine has become an expensive undertaking for Russia, especially in terms of personnel. Since the start of the war, Russia has likely lost 610,000 soldiers (killed and wounded), according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
"Tactics based on mass infantry waves has required Russia to continuously replenish front line forces with a constant stream of new recruits," the report says.
According to British intelligence, the recruitment rate for Russian troops in 2024 has decreased compared to the pace achieved in 2023. Russian officials stated at the end of 2023 that the Russian Ministry of Defence was recruiting around 1,600 people per day. However, publicly available figures this year indicate that the rate is around 1,000 people per day. These numbers are likely somewhat inflated.
As a result, in August 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defence increased enlistment bonuses, which has become an increasingly costly recruitment strategy for Russia, the report adds.
"Estimates suggest military personnel payments amounted to around 8% of federal spending in the year to June 2024. Payment increases will nonetheless probably bolster recruitment levels for the remainder of the year," the UK Ministry of Defence said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sharply increased the one-time payment for Russian citizens and foreigners who sign a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense to be sent to the war in Ukraine. The payment will rise to 400,000 rubles (approximately $4,600).
This new amount will only be available to those who sign a contract between August 1 and December 31, 2024.
Before this, the payment was 195,000 rubles, meaning it will more than double.
Additionally, Putin has recommended that regional governments also pay no less than 400,000 rubles to Russians who decide to join the war effort.
