The increase in Irkutsk comes as Russian regions step up recruitment incentives amid Moscow’s continuing need for manpower in its war against Ukraine
Meanwhile, the payment for recruiting Russian citizens who are registered outside Irkutsk Oblast has been doubled from 400,000 rubles to 800,000 rubles (around $9,500). Which cited independent Russian outlet Vyorstka, the new payment was established in a decree signed earlier this week by Irkutsk Governor Igor Kobzev, according to The Kyiv Independent. The payment is reportedly the highest reward offered by any Russian region for recruiting foreign nationals into the military. The new decree also creates a separate category for foreign nationals and stateless people for the first time. At the same time, Ukraine has continued targeting Russian oil and industrial infrastructure with long-range strikes. US President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to stop attacks on Russian diesel facilities, saying they were contributing to a global fuel shortage.