Staunton, Aug. 1 – Federal subject after federal subject has increased the bonuses it offers to get men to go to fight in Putin’s war in Ukraine (themoscowtimes.com/2024/07/30/russian-regions-hike-military-sign-up-payments-in-bid-to-boost-manpower-for-ukraine-war-a85864), a trend that most see as an effort to demonstrate loyalty.
But the NeMoskva news service suggests that it also represents a bidding war in which wealthier federal subjects like Tatarstan are able to get men from poorer regions to sign up in Tatarstan rather than at home (nemoskva.net/2024/07/30/15-milliona-tatarstan-peremanivaet-muzhchin-iz-drugih-regionov/).
How widespread and effective this process has become is unknown, but if it spreads, that will not only exacerbate tensions between the richer and poorer federal subjects but also highlight this difference in wealth and likely prompt poorer regions to demand more subsidies from Moscow in order to meet their quotas.
If the central authorities don’t provide them, the poorer federal subjects will either have to radically cut back basic services to the population thus fueling anger or decide that providing troops for Moscow’s foreign war is beyond their capacities and tell the central authorities precisely that.
This practice could also affect the wealthier regions and republics as well in ways that won’t work to Moscow’s advantage. The publicity given to such large bonuses at a time when these federal subjects are cutting back on other programs is likely to further soften support for the war and may even contribute to a rise in opposition to it.
No comments:
Post a Comment