How much do the militiamen of Donbass get paid. Our investigation

The ongoing military conflict in the east of Ukraine since the beginning of 2014 still attracts the attention of millions of people, including residents of other states. And they certainly have a lot of questions to which there are many answers. It is rather difficult to understand which of them is true, since information usually comes from sources related to one of the conflicting parties. Magazine I.Q. Review tried to take a neutral attitude to the problem and give answers to the most important questions about the civil war in Ukraine: who is fighting in the Donbass, how people live in the DPR and LPR today, what the Donbass militias are fighting and how much they are paid for it. Our correspondent Denis visited the ATO zone and is transmitting fresh reports from the Novorossiya front.

There are two (officially) parties to the conflict: these are the Armed Forces of Novorossia (AFN) and their constituent formations, on the one hand, and the Armed Forces of Ukraine (APU) and several volunteer battalions (some of which are on the front line, the rest are located on the territory of the country), with another. In fact, if you go deeper, the answer will turn out to be much more multifaceted.

The parties to the conflict are different, but similar

Who is fighting in the Donbass

First of all, on both sides there are a considerable number of mercenaries- people for whom war is a job. For the most part, these are people who have managed to take part in military clashes (from Iraq to Chechnya) that have occurred in recent years. Also, these are those who do not yet have “real” experience, but have served in the army and want to earn money in this way (most often, of course, these are people from low-income segments of the population).

Secondly, on both sides there are participants who were brought into the trenches by ideology. Some came to defend the Ukrainian land from "Russian aggression", others - to eradicate "the resurgent Ukrainian fascism". “I want to fight for the Donbass” is a very real desire of many Russians, mostly young people, and people really went for the idea. They came and agreed to join the militia on the spot - it's not so difficult, people are always needed there. Some Donbass militias from Russia then returned home disabled (or did not return at all).

And finally, on both sides there are enough of those who simply decided to radically change their lives. Usually these are those close people, as well as those who have some problems with the law. There are some (albeit a little), who takes up arms just to get a thrill- these can be successful people with a large family.

Why do people go to fight in the Donbass

Separately, it should be said about motivation. On the part of the BCH, the vast majority are strongly motivated. This is both the local population, which simply protects their homes, and people from various countries who come here (mercenaries, to put it bluntly). They are driven not only and not so much by a thirst for profit (after all, you can’t earn millions there, but you can stay in the ground with a high probability), but by some principles and beliefs.

Things are quite different in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the formations defending the interests of the current government. After the mobilization (there were several waves), the ranks of the army were replenished with a fairly large number of those who do not want to fight (including those who were born or lived in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions). Those who really wanted to took up arms at the beginning of the conflict, so the vast majority of recruits are "random" people, and they could even get into the Armed Forces of Ukraine under duress streets).

Think for yourself: what motivation and desire to fight can they have? Of course, as long as the conflict is frozen and at least a conditional truce is maintained, such people can serve their military service relatively calmly. But with the outbreak of hostilities, such tactics by Kyiv may not lead to the result it is counting on.

How is life now for people living on the territory of the republics of the LPR and DPR?

It goes without saying that the war, as well as the economic blockade of the territories occupied by the republics, could not have a positive effect on their population. By the way, many people simply left their homes: some of them went to Russia (temporarily or in order to stay there for a long time, up to obtaining citizenship), a part (smaller) went to the territory controlled by Ukraine.

The worst hit were those who held not very important positions (managers, bank employees, service workers), as well as those who worked in closed enterprises. Such people are the majority: in fact, teachers, doctors, the military (of course), volunteers (those who are somehow involved in serving the military forces) are still in business. These categories of the population live an order of magnitude better: they receive a salary (in Russian rubles, although not too large, but relatively stable), food, clothing.

By the way, “dry law” applies everywhere for military personnel, which cannot be said about the Armed Forces of Ukraine and battalions (reports periodically slip through the news about rampant drunkenness in the Ukrainian ranks, and about incidents arising on this basis).

However, the ordinary population (those who remained) are not allowed to die of starvation. Regularly arriving humanitarian convoys are, in fact, the only aid without which it would be extremely difficult for the republics.

Of course, the residents of the DPR and LPR live almost from hand to mouth, many have lost their houses and apartments and were forced to move. In this regard, everything is simple now: there are a lot of free housing in cities. You can not . On the contrary, property owners who leave are even ready to pay those who agree to live in their apartments - otherwise they can either be robbed or borrowed.

Not only food is lacking: there are also problems in the medical field - a lack of medicines, qualified personnel, and equipment. This was especially keenly felt during the period of aggravation of the conflict, when a large number of wounded of varying severity were received almost daily.

The economy of Donbass actually died today. In 2015, industry and any movement of the economy in the republics practically stopped. Some shops are open, most of them grocery stores, on the shelves of which there are only necessary products at inflated (even higher than in Moscow) prices. Coal is mined and stored - the land for "black gold" is very rich, and even Ukraine buys it from the republics (which, by the way, is now experiencing serious problems with fuel).

Who and why supplies the militias with money, weapons, food and equipment?

Naturally, tens of thousands of people who participate in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of the NAF should be supplied, and well supplied. Weapons (and not only "Kalash") and ammunition for it, equipment, spare parts and ammunition for it, fuels and lubricants and fuel, equipment, clothing, protective equipment, medicines, food, and just money - for the "salary" of the military and state employees... Of course, there were warehouses in the republics, and combat units from the territories that are now occupied by the Ukrainian army were drawn here, but there is simply nowhere to renew stocks for almost six months.

So the answer suggests itself: militia forces are financed and supplied from outside, and are supplied seriously. The only possible "sponsor" is the Russian Federation. Of course, the state budget is unlikely to contain an article on "financial and material assistance to the NAF", and it is unlikely that anyone will ever admit this openly. However, help - regular and substantial - is definitely there. It goes without saying that no one will transfer serious equipment and modern developments to the militia forces - this would immediately indicate the obvious participation of the Russian Federation.

Moscow OMON officer on condition of anonymity:

“All of our experienced employees were offered business trips to Novorossia. Business trips are very well paid, the boys bought themselves an apartment in Moscow in a year. But I refused, money can't buy another life. Everything is purely voluntary and secret, of course.”

The reasons for such "sponsorship" can be found a huge number. First of all, it is the unwillingness to have a hostile state at hand. At the moment, the DPR and LPR play the role of a kind of buffer. In addition, over time, when the conflict begins to smooth out (most likely not in a year or two), these territories can be annexed, like Crimea.

Another important factor is the political side of the issue. For practically the whole world (USA, Europe), militia forces personify Russia. And the failures (and even more so - the complete defeat) of Novorossia in the eyes of millions of people are the failures of Russia - which is a blow to the "image" of the country.

How much do militiamen and military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Donbass get paid

Only absolutely “frostbitten” or ardent patriots and nationalists go for just risking their lives and killing other people. Much more significant motivation for the participants in the conflict (on both sides) is money. For different structures, the “salary” can be different, and it can differ significantly. Let's try to figure out which of the military gets how much.

Military salaries in Ukraine in 2015

To begin with, here is a list for those who are involved in the conflict on the Ukrainian side:

• private of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: about 3000-3300 UAH (at the current exchange rate - a little more than 9000 rubles);
• private of the National Guard: about 5000-6000 UAH (at the current exchange rate - 15-18 thousand rubles);
• junior officers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: about UAH 6,000 (18,000 rubles);
• battalion private: from 4,000 UAH (12,000 rubles).

The above amounts may differ from the actual, and significantly. It depends on:

- the battalion in which the fighter serves (financing is different for everyone, respectively - and different salaries);

- the location where the formation is located (additional bonuses are awarded at the forefront);

- fulfillment of the task (for this, additional bonuses are relied upon).

There are also problems with payments - due to the hustle and bustle that reigns in the General Staff (as well as because of), salaries are often delayed or paid in installments.

DPR militia salaries*

Those who serve in the Armed Forces of Novorossia are paid an order of magnitude better:

• rank and file: from 50,000 rubles;
• officers: from 80,000 - 90,000 rubles;
• soldiers with real combat experience (who previously participated in military conflicts, as well as those who have a sought-after specialty): from 80,000 rubles.

*Data obtained by interviewing militias and local residents

We are Donbass (video)