Volunteer units were created in more than 20 regions of Russia to participate in the war in Ukraine.
Since the spring of 2022, the Russian authorities have created more than 40 such battalions, the Kommersant newspaper reported on August 8.
In some regions, one division is formed, in others – two or three or more. In some cases, these are motorized rifle, tank or artillery battalions and companies, in others – support units. More often they are formed exclusively from residents of one region.
In all regions, members of volunteer units sign contracts with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation for a period of several months and receive the status of contract soldiers.
Payments promised to volunteers vary by region. In the Omsk region, they promise a salary of 130,000 rubles (approximately 80,000 hryvnias as of August 8 – Rakurs), in other regions – more than 200,000, and in the Perm Territory they offer at least 300,000 rubles.
In addition, contract soldiers were promised various payments for the successful conduct of hostilities and a daily allowance of 8,000 rubles.
In July, volunteers from Chuvashia claimed they had not received the promised money.
A well-informed federal official told Kommersant on condition of anonymity that the units are being created on a territorial basis, since it is more convenient to work with volunteers. Regional authorities asked for help with information support, finances and fundraising for additional logistics, the source said.
On July 13, the American Institute for the Study of War reported, citing Russian media and bloggers, that the Kremlin had instructed the regional authorities to recruit at least one battalion of volunteers instead of declaring a general mobilization.
Simultaneously with the formation of volunteer units, according to media reports, units are also being created in Russia from prisoners recruited by the Wagner PPK. The convicts are offered to become participants in the war in exchange for money and pardon.
Source: Racurs
