Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a desperate attempt to save his army as more and more Russians do not want to fight against Ukraine. Putin announced a law on Saturday that would free soldiers who signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense to fight on the frontline in Ukraine from accumulated financial debts, state-owned media in the Russian Federation reported. The document is published on the official legal information portal.
The relevant law provides for the cancellation of debts up to 10 million rubles (equivalent to $95,835) in the case of recruits, for whom procedures for the recovery of these debts are open until December 1, if they sign a contract committing to fight at least a year in Ukraine.
Russia is trying to attract volunteers to fight on the Ukrainian front by offering financial incentives and has increased soldiers’ salaries, but these vary from region to region, in some cases these monthly salaries are equivalent to very average wages in the economy.
In September 2022 Putin has ordered the mobilization of some 300,000 reservists, but is now hesitant to issue a new one, as the previous one triggered the exodus of hundreds of thousands of Russians who fled their country for fear of being sent to the front. The Russian president has since promised that he will not order any more mobilization, claiming that the number of volunteers will be sufficient.
But in the first half of this year, the number of those willing to sign contracts with the Russian military fell sharply, but registered an increase after Ukraine invaded Russia’s Kursk province in August.
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**To what extent is Putin’s debt relief policy a reflection of a deeper crisis within the Russian military, and how might this impact soldiers’ morale and battlefield performance?**
## Interview: Putin’s Debt Relief for Soldiers – A Desperate Move?
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News. Today, we’re examining Russia’s increasingly desperate measures to bolster its struggling military efforts in Ukraine. President Putin has recently announced a law forgiving the debts of soldiers who sign contracts to fight on the frontlines.
Joining us today are two experts: Dr. Alexandra Petrova, a renowned sociologist specializing in Russian society and Dr. Mikhail Kozlov, a military analyst with a focus on Eastern Europe. Welcome to both of you.
**Section 1: Public Opinion and the Impact of Mobilization:**
* **Dr. Petrova, how has Russian public opinion towards the war in Ukraine evolved since its inception? What societal pressures might be influencing Putin’s decision to offer this debt relief?**
* **Dr. Kozlov, how significant was the fallout from the partial mobilization announced in September 2022? Can Putin afford to risk another mobilization, even with the promise of debt relief as an incentive?**
* **Do you see this debt relief offer as an effective tool to boost volunteer numbers, or is it just a desperate measure masking deeper problems within the Russian military?**
**Section 2: The Incentive of Debt Relief:**
* **Dr. Petrova, for many Russian citizens, particularly those struggling financially, debt is a significant burden. How might the prospect of debt forgiveness resonate with them, and does this create an ethical dilemma?**
* **Dr. Kozlov, how does the current Russian military salary structure compare to other sectors of the economy? Does this debt relief financially incentivize enlistment, or are there other elements at play?**
**Section 3: Implications for the Conflict and Russia’s Future:**
* **Dr. Petrova, what does this move signal about the state of morale within the Russian army? How might this impact the course of the conflict in Ukraine?**
* **Dr. Kozlov, what are your прогнозы for the future of the Russian military, considering the current situation and factors like international sanctions and mobilization fatigue?**
**Closing:**
Thank you, Dr. Petrova and Dr. Kozlov, for your insightful perspectives on this complex issue. This debt forgiveness initiative throws light on the challenges facing the Russian military and the complexities of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As the situation evolves, we’ll continue to analyse these developments and their global implications.
