Putin cuts payments for those injured in the war against Ukraine

On November 14, 2024By Pranco

Russian President Vladimir Putin on November 13 approved a reduction in compensation for injured soldiers who took part in the war against Ukraine.

The current maximum amount of compensation is 3 million rubles (almost $29,000), but its allocation does not take into account the severity of the injury. The change was approved by Putin classifies injuries into three categories.

The payment for a “serious” injury is 3 million rubles (almost $29,000), and for a “minor” injury 1 million rubles (almost $10,000). For “other minor injuries,” soldiers will receive compensation of 100,000 rubles ($960), Russia’s state news agency TASS said.

The decree signed by Putin does not specify how the severity of a particular injury is classified.

Deputy Defense Minister Anna Tsivileva said during a meeting with the head of the ministry, Andrei Belousov, on November 13 that the current rules on payments for injuries create a “sense of distortion” among soldiers.

In October, Russian forces in Ukraine suffered deadliest month since the beginning of the large-scale invasion. British Defense Secretary John Healey said Moscow’s troops suffered 41,980 deaths and injuries in October, according to British Defense Intelligence figures.

While Russian forces are suffering record losses, they are also making accelerating gains in eastern Ukraine.

According to one Bloomberg analysis published as of november 1, ukraine has lost 1,146 square kilometers of its own territory since the launch of the Incursion into Kursk Oblast early August, with the week to November 1 reported as the worst in terms of ground lost in all of 2024.

Meanwhile, Russia is encouraging its citizens to sign contracts with the military, which offers financial benefits.

Instead of ordering a new wave of conscriptions, Putin has ordered an increase in the sign-on bonus for new military recruits to serve in Ukraine up to 400,000 rubles (over $4,600), effectively doubling the lump sum of 195,000 ($2,260) rubles initially promised to recruits in September 2022.

Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced on October 7 that residents of the region will receive compensation national record 3 million rubles (approximately $31,200) through a one-time signing bonus for joining the military.

The additional payments are in line with efforts by Russian officials to entice more citizens to join the military as the country tries to replenish its military, decimated by high losses in Ukraine.