The life of a Russian soldier is worth 20 000 USD. Here's how I got this number:
Putin is paying the families of dead soldiers 7 million rubles. Right now, 1 Ruble is about 1 cent. Thus, the families of dead soldiers get 70 000 dollars. Other news sites report the lump sum to be around 40,000 USD , but Putin says are additional compesations offered to each family member. So, I am going to take his statement at face value and assume the compensation is 70 000 dollars.
Ukraine, at the same time, offers soldiers 5 million Rubles if they surrender.
Thus, a soldier may choose to surrender and stay alive with the 5 millions from Ukraine or fight and die for Putin and get 7 million for his family. I suggested something similar on this blog, two days before such an action was actually taken. The offer to surrender and be paid is still valid. The soldiers will also be reimbursed for the millitary equipement they bring along.
The difference is the price of the soldier'a life, and it's less than 20,000 USD. Unfortunately, this offer from Ukraine's minister of defence has not made the war turn around, yet. If I had a son or daugther who chose to fight to feed his family, I'd want him/her to surrender and live! Russia has a fertility rate well under 2 children per woman, which means most Russians are losing their only child or perhaps one of two children or both children in this war. Of course, the compensation money may or may not be obtained, e.g., not all the deaths are reported. Many will be missing in action. Russia is known to have not compensated the families of ordinary soldiers from prior conflicts.
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