Russia Revises Soldier Compensation Amid War Costs

Russia has revised its compensation structure for soldiers injured in the Ukraine war, introducing a three-tier system based on injury severity. The decree, signed by President Vladimir Putin, reduces payments to 3 million rubles ($30,000) for severe injuries, 1 million rubles ($10,000) for minor injuries, and 100,000 rubles ($1,000) for other injuries. This change addresses the financial burden of the war and aims to distribute compensation more fairly, but it raises concerns about potential injury reclassification by medical authorities. The previous flat payment system was deemed unsustainable as the invasion's costs continued to escalate, estimated at 2.3 trillion rubles ($26 billion). The legislation still provides compensation for families of soldiers killed in action, maintaining the payout at 7.4 million rubles ($75,000).