ROSTOV REGION, Russia (Reuters) – Nearly 20 years after he last served in Russia’s army, “Mara” is back in uniform.
The bearded ex-driver and foundry worker, who identified himself only by his call sign, signed up with the army on Monday. By Friday, he was going through his paces at a training ground in Russia’s southern Rostov region, practising firing from an automatic rifle and simulating the storming of a building.
Two and a half years into its war with Ukraine, Russia is offering one-off bonuses of up to 1.9 million roubles ($20,000) – 22 times the average monthly wage – to men prepared to sign volunteer contracts as professional soldiers.
Being able to attract people like Mara is crucial to Moscow’s ability to replenish its forces and avoid resorting to another round of compulsory mobilisation. The drafting of 300,000 reserves in October 2022 proved hugely unpopular and prompted hundreds of thousands of people to flee the country.
President Vladimir Putin last month ordered the regular size of the Russian army to be increased by 180,000 troops to 1.5 million active servicemen in a move that would make it the second largest in the world after China’s. In July, security official Dmitry Medvedev said nearly 200,000 people had signed army contracts since the start of the year.
“I had been working up to this moment for six months, thinking over the decision, since the enemy is no longer asleep and is crossing our borders,” Mara said in a break from the training.
“We have a new generation growing up, my son is growing up, he will also join the armed forces this year. But it is better for his father to go to war than for our children to go.”
Mara, who served in an engineering and sapper unit from 2003-5, said his family was supportive. “Everyone said well done, that I had made the right decision.”
Another recruit, with the call sign “Ghoul”, said money was not the motivation.
“Sitting in an office, working at a factory, is also a noble cause. But I am a man after all. I think that I will be more useful there (at the front) than here. With each passing hour I am convinced that I made the right choice,” he said.
“You see, everyone is covered in dust, in dirt, in scratches. But we are preparing, giving our all.”
One of the men’s instructors, “Mityai”, said they were keen to learn but starting from different levels.
“Some people have a little more desire, some a little less. Some have more physical training, some less. In principle, we equalize everyone during the course of training,” he said.
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
