# Some wounded Russian soldiers find compensation elusive, despite Putin’s pledge – sources
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-07-29
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Russian Soldiers Struggle to Obtain Compensation for
Meta Description: Russian President Putin promised injured soldiers compensation, but many are facing bureaucratic obstacles, delays, and narrowed eligibility criteria. Learn
URL: https://financedigest.com/some-wounded-russian-soldiers-find-compensation-elusive-despite-putins-pledge-sourceshtml

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By Maria Tsvetkova

ISTANBUL (Reuters) – A week into Moscow’s war in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a gesture of solidarity with his soldiers at the front: injured men could claim compensation of three million roubles, equivalent to about $50,000 or the amount an average Russian worker would earn in four years.

“It’s our duty to support the families of our fallen and injured war comrades,” said Putin when he announced it in early March.

But with the numbers of wounded servicemen mounting, some of them are finding that Putin’s gesture is not as generous as it initially seemed. Reuters has found that some injured soldiers – including those with significant wounds – are struggling to obtain the compensation, based on interviews with four injured [Russian service](https://www.financedigest.com/russian-services-activity-shrinks-for-third-month-running-in-dec-pmi.html "Russian services activity shrinks for third month running in Dec -PMI") personnel, a wounded soldier’s relative, two people involved with advocacy groups representing soldiers and a lawyer.

For some, it’s because a little-noticed clarification to the rules has narrowed the criteria for eligibility; others face bureaucratic obstacles or [delays in getting applications approved](https://www.financedigest.com/eu-commission-approves-delay-in-medical-devices-law-to-avert-shortages.html "EU commission approves delay in medical devices law to avert shortages").

Maxim Grebenyuk, a lawyer who runs a Moscow-based advocacy organisation called Military Ombudsman that provides [legal advice](https://www.financedigest.com/some-credit-suisse-at1-bondholders-seek-legal-advice-law-firms.html "Some Credit Suisse AT1 bondholders seek legal advice -law firms") to service personnel in disputes with their employer, said he has received hundreds of requests for help from wounded servicemen chasing the payments. “There’s a certain amount of social tension among military personnel” towards authorities in relation to these payments, he said.

Russia’s defence ministry, health ministry, and Kremlin did not respond to Reuters questions for this article, including about the payment scheme and the numbers of soldiers wounded or killed. Putin in April said the Russian state [needed to ensure the “implementation of all our commitments for the welfare of service](https://www.financedigest.com/top-5-seo-services-you-need-to-succeed-in-2022.html "Top 5 SEO Services You Need To Succeed In 2022") personnel, especially those who sustained injuries.”

Five months after Putin invaded Ukraine, the conflict is taking a heavy toll on Russia’s military as well as its economy due to international sanctions, according to [Ukraine and its Western](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-russian-gold-removed-from-some-western-funds-after-ukraine.html "Analysis-Russian gold removed from some Western funds after Ukraine") allies. The United States has estimated that potentially 45,000 [Russian soldiers](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-begins-first-war-crimes-trial-of-russian-soldier.html "Ukraine begins first war crimes trial of Russian soldier") have been wounded and around 15,000 killed https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/cia-director-says-some-15000-russians-killed-ukraine-war-2022-07-20, which would equal the Soviet death toll during the Soviet-Afghan war of 1979-1989.

Three of the soldiers Reuters spoke to also described [heavy losses](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-motor-and-home-insurers-headed-for-heavy-losses-ey-warns.html "UK motor and home insurers headed for heavy losses, EY warns") to their units. One, who said he was as a platoon commander, said that half of his 200-person unit were killed or wounded over a two-month period. A soldier in his twenties said his battalion had initially numbered 700 but by June only about 100 were still fit for combat, with the rest dead, injured or refusing to fight. Reuters was unable to independently [verify the accounts](https://www.financedigest.com/twitter-to-introduce-official-label-for-some-verified-accounts.html "Twitter to introduce ‘Official’ label for some verified accounts").

Russia, which [says it is conducting a special military operation](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-sets-5g-goal-says-no-magic-number-of-operators.html "Britain sets 5G goal, says no ‘magic number’ of operators") in Ukraine, has not released casualty figures since March 25, when the defence ministry said there were 1,351 killed and 3,825 wounded. Ukraine has also sustained high numbers of casualties; Kyiv said in June that 100 to 200 Ukrainian troops were being killed per day.

Hospitals are also experiencing shortages. Some injured Russian servicemen are arriving at [hospitals without enough beds](https://www.financedigest.com/the-acute-care-hospital-beds-and-stretchers-market-to-virtually-grow-beyond-geographies.html "The Acute Care Hospital Beds And Stretchers Market to virtually grow beyond geographies"), doctors or equipment to treat them properly, according to two of the soldiers and an official involved in Moscow’s military operations.

‘PRESIDENTIAL PAYMENTS’

Putin announced the [payments on March 3 during a meeting of his security](https://www.financedigest.com/allpay-signs-with-eckoh-to-secure-telephone-payments.html "allpay signs with Eckoh to secure telephone payments") council broadcast on national television. Two days later, he issued a decree setting out the compensation, [commonly referred to among](https://www.financedigest.com/scissors-among-most-commonly-confiscated-items-at-airports.html "Scissors among most commonly confiscated items at airports") soldiers as “presidential payments.”

The decree stated that anyone who suffered a “concussion, injury, mutilation” while serving in [Russian security forces in Ukraine would receive the three million roubles](https://www.financedigest.com/russian-rouble-nears-4-week-high-versus-dollar.html "Russian rouble nears 4-week high versus dollar").

Seven weeks later, on April 22, the defence ministry [issued details on the payment’s implementation that were posted](https://www.financedigest.com/ford-posts-lower-profit-issues-downbeat-outlook-shares-drop.html "Ford posts lower profit, issues downbeat outlook; shares drop") on its website, including specifying that to be eligible injuries needed to be among those described on an official list.

Sergei Krivenko, head of an advocacy [group called](https://www.financedigest.com/soccer-womens-rights-group-calls-on-fifa-to-kick-iran-out-of-world-cup.html "Soccer-Women’s rights group calls on FIFA to kick Iran out of World Cup") “Citizen. Army. Rights.” that helps soldiers fight legal cases, said he believed the move was prompted by growing costs. “Three million is such a big amount, at the [end of the day](https://www.financedigest.com/amazon-to-lay-off-staff-in-u-s-canada-and-costa-rica-by-end-of-day.html "Amazon to lay off staff in U.S., Canada and Costa Rica by end of day"). And it turned out there were too many people” who were eligible, he said. The Kremlin and defence ministry didn’t respond to questions about the reason for the [rule change](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-watchdog-warns-crypto-firms-to-prepare-for-advertising-rule-change.html "UK watchdog warns crypto firms to prepare for advertising rule change").

One Russian soldier caught out by the change was the one in his twenties who described the losses in his battalion. He said he was a gunner in an anti-tank unit and served in [Ukraine’s Luhansk region](https://www.financedigest.com/stocks-slide-oil-jumps-as-russia-orders-troops-to-ukraine-regions.html "Stocks slide, oil jumps as Russia orders troops to Ukraine regions"), scene of some of the heaviest fighting. Like other soldiers who spoke to Reuters, he asked to [remain anonymous because he feared](https://www.financedigest.com/japans-covid-19-cases-defy-asia-rebound-yet-fears-remain-for-winter-wave.html "Japan’s COVID-19 cases defy Asia rebound, yet fears remain for winter wave") punishment for speaking to the media.

The soldier, from Southern Russia, said he and his unit were at the front line in early June when a mortar landed nearby and a piece of shrapnel struck his leg. At the military hospital in Rostov he received an official diagnosis: shrapnel wound to the [soft tissue](https://www.financedigest.com/the-soft-tissue-repair-market-to-get-digitally-amplified.html "The Soft Tissue Repair Market to get digitally amplified") of his right lower leg with damage to the muscle.

At another military hospital where he later had an operation on the wound, a surgeon initially told the soldier he would be entitled to the so-called presidential payment but then changed his view, according to the gunner. He said the doctor told him the [list of eligible injuries referred to in the April 22 document include](https://www.financedigest.com/veraviews-included-on-iab-global-vendor-list.html "VeraViews Included on IAB Global Vendor List") a ruptured muscle, but the diagnosis cited only muscle damage.

“I was upset, of course,” said the soldier, adding that since April 22 obtaining the payment had “got complicated.” He said he has since secured a second opinion that confirmed a ruptured-muscle diagnosis with the help of a lawyer, whom he didn’t name.

The soldier has applied to the head of his unit for the three million rouble payment, according to a copy of the July application he shared with Reuters. In late July, he said he had received the payment.

[Staff at the hospital](https://www.financedigest.com/the-icu-is-full-medical-staff-on-frontline-of-chinas-covid-fight-say-hospitals-are-overwhelmed.html "‘The ICU is full’: medical staff on frontline of China’s COVID fight say hospitals are ‘overwhelmed’") where the soldier said he had his operation did not answer calls placed by Reuters. Rostov’s military hospital didn’t respond to a request for comment on accounts that he and another soldier gave to Reuters about their medical treatment.

SPECIFIC CRITERIA

Two other soldiers [say they too have been told by doctors their injuries didn’t meet](https://www.financedigest.com/amazon-will-not-cut-jobs-in-italy-unions-say-after-meeting.html "Amazon will not cut jobs in Italy, unions say after meeting") the specific eligibility criteria.

One of those soldiers, in his 40s and from central Russia, said he was serving in a motorised rifle battalion in the Luhansk region when shrapnel from a land mine lodged in his arm. The soldier said he was sent to the same military hospital in Rostov and put in the ear, nose and throat department because that was the only place with beds free. “There’s no space, they put you wherever they can,” he said.

While being treated in hospital, doctors told him that the so-called presidential payment was only being given to people with damaged or broken bones or those who had suffered more severe injuries. He was told his injury involved “only the soft tissue,” he said.

He said he nevertheless applied for the payment and hasn’t received a formal response.

Reuters confirmed he served in the Luhansk region and reviewed copies of his medical records, which confirm his name and nature of the injury.

The other soldier, from Russia’s North Caucasus region, was shot in the thigh while serving in Ukraine in April, according to a document issued by doctors at a military hospital in the same region he is from. The document, shared with Reuters by a relative, shows doctors stated his injuries were not included in the list referred to by the defence ministry on April 22.

The relative said the soldier may appeal the doctors’ decision so that he can apply for the presidential payment. The hospital didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Another soldier, the platoon commander in his mid 40s from central Russia, said he decided not to apply for the payment.

He [sustained a concussion when his unit came under attack in the Luhansk region but delayed seeking](https://www.financedigest.com/global-citizen-seeks-up-to-1-billion-for-six-sustainable-impact-funds.html "Global Citizen seeks up to billion for six sustainable ‘Impact’ funds") medical attention because he didn’t want to abandon his men, many of them combat novices, according to the commander. Once he did [seek treatment at a hospital in eastern Ukraine](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-seeks-debt-payment-freeze-as-war-ravages-economy.html "Ukraine seeks debt payment freeze as war ravages economy"), he said, a fellow patient who was a colonel told him he would no longer qualify for the payment because of the new criteria. The list referred to by the defence ministry on April 22 said concussion would only be eligible if confirmed by doctors within three days of it happening.

Reuters independently verified the platoon commander’s identity and that he serves with [Russian forces](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-pushes-russian-forces-back-restricts-gas-flow-to-europe.html "Ukraine pushes Russian forces back, restricts gas flow to Europe"), but wasn’t able to corroborate his account of his injuries or treatment.

QUITTING SERVICE

Some soldiers have not been explicitly [told they don’t qualify for the payment but have still struggled](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-banks-and-insurers-told-to-step-up-help-for-struggling-customers.html "UK banks and insurers told to step up help for struggling customers") to obtain the compensation.

Another man, who said he was as an infantry soldier from Moscow in his early 20s, told Reuters that in early April he’d been near the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv when a mortar landed close to him, overturning a truck he was unloading and breaking toes on his foot.

He says he applied in April for the three million-rouble payout and, having received no response, also wrote to the military prosecutor asking for an explanation. Reuters has seen some of his medical notes and a July letter from the [military prosecutor’s office](https://www.financedigest.com/japan-uk-to-sign-reciprocal-access-agreement-for-military-officers-yomiuri.html "Japan, UK to sign reciprocal access agreement for military officers -Yomiuri") stating it had contacted the head of the soldier’s unit asking that the issue be looked into.

The military prosecutor’s office didn’t respond to questions about whether there had been delays and if so, the reason for them. A law relating to wounded-soldier compensation payments [states that a correctly-submitted application should receive a response within 15 days](https://www.financedigest.com/india-to-hold-one-day-state-mourning-on-passing-away-of-queen-elizabeth.html "India to hold one day state mourning on passing away of Queen Elizabeth").

The soldier said he was still having trouble with his foot and had filed a request with commanders of his [unit to quit military service](https://www.financedigest.com/sacyr-shortlists-four-bidders-for-its-service-waste-management-unit-expansion.html "Sacyr shortlists four bidders for its service, waste management unit – Expansion"). He said: “They put the question to me: will you go back again? And I said no.”

(Editing by Christian Lowe and Cassell Bryan-Low)


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