The Russian defence ministry statement posted on the Kremlin's website said the numbers would be increased gradually through a recruitment drive, and not by mobilisation or changes to conscription.
That's gonna be expensive, given that you've already offered pay well in excess of what the typical Russian salary is, and still weren't able to attract all the people that haven't signed up.
The risk of death is something that prospective recruits are gonna take into account; that's on both sides of the equation. Russia was offering death benefits before, and I expect that that hasn't changed.
The Russia-1 story didn’t specify how much money the family received in compensation for their son’s death, but according to Russian law, deceased soldiers’ relatives are entitled to a one-time payment and insurance coverage worth 7.4 million rubles (about $127,000). In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that victims’ families would be paid an additional five million rubles (about $86,000). Regional governments also issue families separate payments ranging from one million to three million rubles (approximately $17,000 to $51,000).
The defence ministry said the move was a response to an increase in threats, including from the expansion of Nato.
Russia is thought to have sustained heavy casualties in more than a year-and-a-half of fighting in Ukraine, even though it does not release figures.
The Russian defence ministry statement posted on the Kremlin's website said the numbers would be increased gradually through a recruitment drive, and not by mobilisation or changes to conscription.
"The increase in the number of servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is being implemented in stages, based on citizens who express a desire to undergo military service under a contract," it added.
Nato has recently expanded to include Finland, which has a long border with Russia.
Earlier on Thursday Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for reinforcements and stronger defences along the front line with Russia, as temperatures in the region fall below freezing.
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