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On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his country had completed the mobilization of 318,000 people to serve in the armed forces. On Friday, Interfax reported that Putin had signed a law allowing the recruitment of perpetrators of serious crimes, with the exception of those convicted of pedophilia, treason, espionage or terrorism.
The Kremlin said the Russian president on Thursday ordered a one-time payment of 195,000 rubles ($3,200) to contract soldiers and those called up to fight in Ukraine. In a decree posted on the Kremlin’s website, Putin said the amount was intended to “take additional measures of social support” for the recalled contract soldiers, without elaborating. The minimum monthly wage offered to contract soldiers is 160,000 rubles ($2,700), nearly three times the average wage in Russia.
On Friday, Putin stressed that civilians in Kherson in southern Ukraine “should be removed” from the “most dangerous” combat zones, where Moscow is facing a counter-attack by Ukrainian forces. “Those who are currently living in Kherson should be removed from the most dangerous combat zones,” he said during a brief ceremony marking Russia’s National Unity Day on Moscow’s Red Square.
Putin drew attention to the difference between Ukrainians who came to Russia and Ukrainians who went to Europe.
He noted that there the Ukrainians demand a discount in restaurants, and in Russia they ask for work.
