Putin Unveils New Incentives to Boost Russian Army Recruitment for Ukraine War

Vladimir Putin is using new recruitment measures to sustain Russia’s war effort as the country faces mounting battlefield losses and rising pressure on its military manpower. The Kremlin has introduced debt relief for new military recruits and their families, while also easing the path to Russian citizenship for residents of Transnistria, a breakaway region of Moldova with close ties to Moscow.

The move comes as analysts say Russia is struggling to replace soldiers as fast as they are killed or wounded in Ukraine. The Institute for the Study of War says the Kremlin is trying to preserve and expand its force-generation system, relying on increasingly coercive methods to keep its army supplied with troops. Independent Russian media outlet Mediazona has reported that more than 350,000 Russian soldiers have been killed since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, although many experts believe the true figure is significantly higher.

Military analysts argue that the scale of losses has made Russia’s manpower problem more severe. Mark Galeotti, a Russian security affairs academic at University College London, said the country cannot recruit enough personnel to sustain the conflict and that the financial and human costs are becoming unsustainable. He said Russia may eventually be forced to consider another mass mobilization, although that would be politically risky after the unrest and emigration that followed the partial mobilization in September 2022.

One of the latest incentives is a debt relief decree signed by Putin earlier this week. According to the Kremlin, people who sign a contract with the Russian Defence Ministry from May 1, 2026, and serve for at least one year can have debts of up to 10 million roubles wiped out. Their spouses can also benefit from the measure. The Kremlin also extended rental rights for state land for those fighting in Ukraine, adding another financial incentive for service. These policies are being used alongside broader efforts to encourage enlistment through money, benefits and legal privileges.

The recruitment push comes at a time when Russia’s economy is also showing strain. During a recent Victory Day parade, Putin acknowledged that GDP had contracted and growth had slowed, while economist Michel Duclos said Russia’s economy, after being stimulated by military spending, is now stagnating and drifting toward recession.

Another part of the strategy targets Transnistria, the Russian-speaking separatist region in Moldova. On May 15, 2026, Putin approved a decree making Russian citizenship easier for adults who permanently live in Transnistria. The region has around 470,000 residents, many of whom already speak Russian, and about 200,000 are Russian citizens. It also hosts a Russian military presence. Critics, including Moldovan President Maia Sandu and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, say the move could help Moscow widen its recruitment base and deepen its influence in the region. Zelenskyy described it as a specific step linked to recruitment and Russian claims over the territory.

Russia says the citizenship change is intended to protect rights and freedoms, but Ukrainian intelligence believes Transnistria is unlikely to become a major new front because Russian military capabilities there remain limited. Even so, analysts warn the territory could still be used for destabilization, hybrid operations, and pressure against southern Ukraine.

Overall, the latest measures suggest the Kremlin is under growing strain to sustain its war effort. What was once seen as a formidable military machine is now being portrayed by analysts as depleted, under-equipped, and burdened by corruption, forcing Russia to rely on increasingly unconventional methods to keep soldiers in the field.