Russia's military recruitment fell 20 percent in the first quarter of 2026 against a year earlier — and the incentives meant to reverse it are extraordinary, with signing bonuses worth several years of an average Russian salary.

June 15 (Reuters) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, one of Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin's closest allies, said in an interview published on Monday that Russia and Ukraine must compromise to end the war that has raged for more than four years with no end in sight.