Russia’s overwhelming manpower advantage against Ukraine is starting to wane

(Lauren Kent – CNN) What would you do with an $80,000 bonus, more than quadruple the amount of an average annual salary? Or with $140,000 in debt relief? Those are the questions being posed to men in Russia, as the military advertises multi-million-ruble incentives to fight in Ukraine. Ads plastered on roadside billboards and embedded in young men’s social media feeds are offering eye-watering sums – more than many people earn in years – alongside promises to become a “hero” or be fast-tracked to Russian citizenship.And yet military recruitment was down by 20% in the first quarter of this year compared to 2025, and there are signs it’s still faltering, according to Russian economy expert Janis Kluge. The Kremlin’s strategy has long been to outlast Ukraine in an attritional war profiting from its immense population and large military industry that can sustain a slow, grinding campaign. And now, with the Ukraine war in its fifth year, President Vladimir Putin’s war coffers are getting a much-needed boost thanks to the Iran war increasing oil prices. The problem? “Rubles don’t fight wars,” said Nigel Gould-Davies, a senior fellow for Russia and Eurasia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). He noted that this is the first war in Russia’s history in which the state is paying citizens to fight rather than forcing them – and that is leading to economic strain and manpower issues. – Russia’s overwhelming manpower advantage against Ukraine is starting to wane | CNN