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The government of Russia's Republic of Sakha postponed a planned pay increase for public sector employees by two months, pushing the effective date from July 1 to September 1, after 'unforeseen expenses' tied to military recruitment bonuses. Regional head Kirill Bychkov disclosed the delay in response to a legislative inquiry. The episode illustrates strains on regional budgets in Russia as recruitment incentives to sustain troop numbers for the war in Ukraine compete with other public spending priorities.