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A British traveller has claimed that Russian soldiers receive ‘extra pay’ for killing civilians, police, and medics during the Russia-Ukraine war, with a larger fee given for aid workers and medics
Russian soldiers gain ‘extra pay’ for each kill in the Russia-Ukraine war, with higher amounts for police or medics, claims British traveller.
Chris Reilly, 37, recently travelled to Ukraine to witness what life in the country is currently like for himself. However, once there he heard devastating stories and was told things by Ukrainian soldiers and medics that he could not believe.
Whilst travelling in the east of the country, to see the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine war, Chris spoke with soldiers and medics keen to tell him about their experiences.
“I was led to believe that they work off a bounty programme,” the YouTuber from Liverpool stated. “They are given extra pay for [killing] a police officer, aid worker, volunteer etc., and I was told this is why so many civilians are attacked.
“I can’t be sure if it is true, but it really wouldn’t surprise me. Look at Bucha, for example. They [the Russians] wiped out a whole fleet of fleeing families while they were in their cars.
“If they kill a police officer they get an extra $100 wage. If they kill a civilian, they get $10 – volunteers they get extra. I was told this by someone from the frontline, so it makes sense why they are going out and just not caring.”
Chris explained how the different parts of Ukraine he visited were destroyed to varying extremes, with supermarkets – key supply locations – obliterated. During his week in the country, he also saw drones and heard gunshots and sirens – occurrences that would usually frighten civilians, but seemed normal to the locals around him. Soldiers and medics also shared their experiences with him, may of whom wanted to buy him a drink and just chat about what is currently happening in the country.
In January 2023, The Moscow Times reported that Russian soldiers were being offered bounties for shooting down Ukrainian tanks. According to the publication, a Russian company offered a cash bounty of up to five million rubles (£42,855) for the destruction or capture of Western-made tanks, which had at the time recently been promised to Ukraine by its European and American allies.
The company also said it would pay out 500,000 rubles (£4,285) for each subsequent tank.
In addition, in April last year, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev attacked NATO, calling for a bounty on any Western troops that enter Ukraine.
“There can only be one rule for these overseas lice, who, unlike the unfortunate Ukrainians, were not forced to go to war: no prisoners taken!” Medvedev wrote in a post on social media platform X, according to Business Insider. “And for each NATO fighter killed, blown-up, or burned, there must be a maximum reward,” he added.
Today, Russia rejected swapping occupied territory with Kyiv in any peace deal, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed the idea.
Russia’s defence ministry stated that it had carried out a “group missile strike” on Ukrainian military-industrial sites that produce drones, claiming in a social media post that “all planned targets were hit”. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later confirmed that one person was killed and at least four others were wounded — including a child.
He added: “This Russian terror against Ukraine will not stop on its own. Putin is not preparing for peace – he continues to kill Ukrainians and destroy cities. Only strong actions and pressure on Russia can put an end to this terror. Right now, we need the unity and support of all our partners in the fight for a just end to this war.”
