Since the Ukrainian invasion of the Russian region of Kursk on August 6, significantly more residents of the capital Moscow have volunteered for the army.
The residents of the vibrant metropolis, known in Russian as ‘Moskvitchi’, are considered privileged compared to the rest of the country. In addition to the fundamentally higher standard of living, President Vladimir Putin tries to keep the war out of the capital as much as possible. For a long time, there was little enthusiasm for serving at the front. However, the events of the past few weeks seem to be causing a rethink.
The independent Russian online media Vjorstka published statistics leaked by a source in Moscow City Hall. For example, in the week of July 29 to August 4, an average of 97 people per day voluntarily signed a contract with the Ministry of Defense. A week later, there were already 126 notifications per day for wartime use. Between August 12 and 18, the number increased even further, with an average of 180 notifications per day. From August 19 to 25, there were 213 signatures per day.
Citizens want revenge for Kursk
According to the source from the Moscow city administration, half of the contracts are directly related to the invasion of the Ukrainian armed forces. “I always said that I will do this if my homeland is attacked. And it was attacked,” says one of Vyorstka’s interlocutors. “Have you seen what is happening in Kursk,” says another angrily.
The Kremlin is spending huge sums of money
The last time the number of volunteers increased was after Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin in late July set a generous one-time bonus payment of 1.9 million rubles (about 18,600 euros) for those signing a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry. For comparison, a grocery salesman in Moscow earns 50,000 rubles (490 euros) a month, a real estate agent earns 100,000 rubles (980 euros) and a lawyer earns about 150,000 rubles (1,470 euros). Previously, interest in serving on the front lines had waned over the year, the publication said.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
