Leopard tanks can quickly destroy enemy tanks from great distances, such as the Russian T-72. But these tanks are vulnerable from the air, even to attack helicopters designed to take out heavy military equipment.
Bonuses are part of a larger reward scheme that has been around for some time. “But it’s not customary for the military to work on bonuses,” says foreign commentator Bernard Hammelburg. Soldiers earn around 550 euros when they hit a vehicle. They would get double that with a Leopard tank.
More than 10,000 Russian soldiers have received extra money since the start of the war. The highest amount is paid for the destruction of one Ukrainian aircraft or helicopter, namely about 3300 euros. “So the rewards don’t lie,” says Hammelburg.
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Despite the reports, Hammelburg doubts this is actually true. He knows of no other examples of award-winning soldiers and calls the phenomenon exceptional. ‘I know the Mongols were allowed to eat from tax revenues in the areas they conquered. And to a certain extent this was also true for the Romans».