In September 2008, Russia sent hundreds of workers to rebuild Tskhinvali and promised cash payments for every South Ossetian.[5] South Ossetian Prime Minister Boris Chochiev said that Russia "promised to pay South Ossetians up to $2,000 each in compensation for war damage."[5] In September 2008 Russia financed payment of pensions for South Ossetian pensioners, financed aid for unemployed and subsidised families that lost their houses during the war.[6] Russian reconstruction aid for South Ossetia was $490 million.