In a move aimed at bolstering military recruitment in Moscow, residents of the city will now be eligible to receive a one-time payment of 1.9 million rubles ($21,777) upon signing a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry. The announcement comes after Mayor Sergey Sobyanin signed a decree to implement this new support measure.

According to the city's administration, this payment will be available to individuals who pass the selection process starting from July 23, 2024. Moscow officials have also confirmed that they will continue to provide existing support measures for Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine, which includes a monthly payment of 50,000 rubles ($573) to servicemen based in Moscow.

"The total amount of payments to a contract serviceman, which takes into account their monthly salary as well as the Moscow and federal support measures, will exceed 5.2 million rubles ($59,599) for the first year of service," stated the administration.

These new financial incentives are part of the Russian government's efforts to attract and retain personnel within the military. In the period between July 2023 and June 2024, the government disbursed between 2.75 trillion and 3 trillion rubles ($31 billion-$33.9 billion) in salaries and compensation to soldiers and their families, according to the policy group Re:Russia.

This substantial expenditure corresponds to approximately 1.4-1.6 percent of the country's expected GDP in 2024, as well as 7.5-8.2 percent of its federal budget expenditures for the current year.

As enlistment rates remain a key priority for the Russian Defense Ministry, these financial incentives, including the one-time payment in Moscow, aim to encourage citizens to join the military and contribute to national security efforts.