Russia Offers Debt Forgiveness to Boost Ukraine War Recruitment

New law forgives up to $96,000 in debt for recruits and their spouses as Moscow seeks to bolster its military ranks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed legislation forgiving up to 10 million rubles ($96,000) in debt for new military recruits and their spouses, aiming to attract more personnel for the Ukraine war.
The law applies to debts already under court-ordered collection before December 1, 2024, and is part of broader financial incentives to avoid another unpopular mobilization order.
Russia recently fired an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile, Oreshnik, at Ukraine, with wreckage recovered in Dnipro showing the missile can carry conventional or nuclear warheads.
Ukraine's military continues to face pressure as North Korea reportedly sent over 10,000 troops to support Russia, while Ukraine reported over 800 aerial attacks by Russian forces in the past week.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's team expressed concerns over escalation and emphasized ongoing coordination with the Biden administration to address the conflict.