MOSCOW, February 1. /TASS/. The latest initiatives to pay servicemen for the capture or elimination of Western-supplied Leopard or Abrams tanks should encourage soldiers participating in the special military operation, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday.
Commenting on an initiative by the Trans-Baikal Region’s Governor Alexander Osipov who offered compensation of up to 3 million rubles ($42,800) for the capture of German or US-made tanks in Ukraine, Peskov said, "As for all those tanks, we have said they will certainly be burned, and even more so if there are such incentives."
The Russian presidential spokesman said business leaders had come up with similar proposals, too. "Various sums have been offered for every burned, eliminated or captured fighting vehicle, which is yet further evidence of the unity and of how everybody is seeking to make a contribution, either directly or indirectly, to attaining the key goals in the course of the special military operation," Peskov emphasized.
However, Peskov said, "no such hardware is available so far, nor can it be there de facto." "Obviously, training will require some time," he added.
Earlier, the Trans-Baikal Region’s governor signed a decree which provides for compensation ranging from 100,000 rubles (over $1,400) to 3 million rubles for participating in the elimination or capture of NATO tanks. The maximum payout will be provided to any serviceman who captures an operating Leopard tank. That said, the document recommends troops contain their bravery if it jeopardizes the implementation of combat tasks.