St. Petersburg cuts city bonus for signing army contract to 400,000 rubles, second reduction in a month
St. Petersburg authorities have again reduced the one-time city payment for people who sign a contract with Russia's Defense Ministry. Journalists were given a figure of 400,000 rubles at several information centers.
Authorities in St. Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city, have once again cut the one-time payment from the city budget for people who sign a contract with the Russian Defense Ministry. According to the local outlet Fontanka, journalists were told the amount was 400,000 rubles at several military service information centers and through the general hotline. It is the second reduction in under a month.
What center staff said
Staff at the information center in Primorsky District told journalists that the city pays 400 thousand rubles and the Defense Ministry another 400 thousand. They also mentioned a possible extra 600 thousand rubles for those who sign up as drone operators, but said they could not guarantee it. The staff noted that the information they receive changes from one day to the next and advised speaking with the person who handles the paperwork.
Staff on the hotline listed on the city administration's website, however, gave a different figure: 800,000 rubles.
Background
News of a sharp cut emerged on October 16, when the city payment was reduced from 3.5 million to 1 million rubles. Updated information on the city administration's website listed an exception: for contracts to join the drone forces, the payment stayed unchanged at 3.5 million rubles.
As early as October 6, the outlets Rotonda and Fontanka reported that advertisements showing the earlier payment amounts had begun disappearing from municipal websites and city streets.
