MOSCOW, July 31 (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday doubled advance payments for volunteers willing to fight in Ukraine, a move aimed at facilitating military recruitment but likely to create imbalances in the overheated economy.

All Russians who sign a contract with the military now receive an advance payment of 400,000 rubles ($4,651). The decree also recommends that regional authorities match this payment from their budgets with at least the same amount.

With the minimum monthly pay for a soldier taking part in what Russia calls a “special military operation” set at 204,000 rubles, the new decree raises the minimum annual salary in the first year of service to 3.25 million rubles ($37,791).

Monthly salaries for officers are higher and depend on their rank. All recruits also receive extra money for participating in offensives or destroying enemy tanks and other machines.