Siberia’s Irkutsk Region Offers Military Recruiters Record $18K Commission for Enlisting Foreigners

Sep. 11, 2026 Men standing in line at a military recruitment office. Arthur Novosiltsev / Moskva News Agency Siberia’s Irkutsk region has introduced a record-high commission for military recruiters who successfully enlist foreign nationals and stateless persons into the Russian military, according to a directive signed by the regional governor on Thursday. Under the directive, recruiters will now receive 1.5 million rubles ($17,800) for every foreign citizen they sign to a military contract. The new commission represents a fourfold increase over the past seven months, making Irkutsk the highest-paying Russian region for foreign enlistment incentives, according to the exiled news outlet Vyorstka. Irkutsk previously offered a flat recruiter fee of 400,000 rubles ($4,700) per contract, regardless of the recruit’s citizenship. Vyorstka said the latest directive explicitly separates foreign citizens and stateless individuals from Russian recruits, while doubling the commission for enlisting Russians from other regions to 800,000 rubles ($9,500). The move reflects a broader trend as regional governments scramble to meet military recruitment quotas. The Smolensk region recently raised recruiter payouts from 115,000 rubles ($1,300) to 1 million rubles ($11,900), while the Ryazan region hiked its commission to 805,000 rubles ($9,500). Ukraine, which also allows foreign nationals to fight alongside its armed forces, previously identified more than 28,000 foreigners from 136 countries — excluding those from North Korea — who fought on the Russian side as of April 2026. In a report published Thursday, Amnesty International said Russian recruitment efforts “frequently involved deceptive, coercive and exploitative practices.” “Testimonies… describe contracts signed without informed consent, confiscation of passports, restrictions on freedom of movement, inadequate training and threats against those seeking to leave military service,” the NGO said, saying the practices “may amount to human trafficking.” Read more about: Irkutsk , Regions , Defense Ministry Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Irkutsk Rejects Permit to Hold Protest Against Government Restrictions on Telegram The liberal Yabloko party said earlier that it had received a permit to hold a demonstration with up to 300 people. 2 Min read Drivers Stranded on Baikal Highway Amid Subzero Weather Traffic worsened after several truckers violated road rules, causing accidents that further blocked the highway, officials said. 1 Min read Russian Defense Ministry Publishes Rare Footage of Tatarstan Drone Factory Employing Teens A factory banner reads: “Kurchatov, Korolyov and Stalin live in your DNA.” 2 Min read Russian Military Boosts Call-Ups for Annual Reservist Training Exercises Military commissariats in the Moscow region have sent a flurry of demands to companies to provide lists of employees eligible for reserve duty. 4 Min read