Russian soldiers at a parade. Photo: TASS
Since the beginning of 2025, Russian regions have been massively reducing one-time cash payments to citizens who sign a contract for military service. This was reported by the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
The reduction in financial incentives, according to the NSDU, indicates a deepening budget crisis in the regions of the Russian Federation amid tough sanctions and economic pressure from the West.
Based on available information:
- In the Samara region, payments were reduced from USD 45 thousand to USD 26 thousand;
- in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug – from 39 thousand to 24 thousand;
- in Nizhny Novgorod – from USD 38 thousand to USD 19 thousand;
- in Bashkortostan – from $20,000 to $12,000, and in Ufa – to $7,000.
The main reason is the sharp rise in regional budget deficits. In particular, in Bashkortostan it has reached $124 million, and in the Kemerovo region it is almost $900 million. The coal industry has become an additional factor in the crisis: about 15,000 miners may lose their jobs.
Funding is now being reoriented towards the implementation of national projects financed from the federal budget, with up to 90% of funds going to the social sector. This significantly limits the ability of local authorities to make spending decisions.
“The reduction in payments demonstrates the depth of financial instability in the regions and uncoordinated policies that only increase social tensions in a war economy,” the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine said.
