The Russian Ministry of Labour and Social Protection clarified the pension arrangements for citizens who live abroad. In 2023, Russians living outside the country will continue to receive pensions either into Russian bank accounts or into foreign accounts in rubles, a policy previously announced by TASS. This approach aligns with the broader effort to maintain pension payments amid sanctions that affect the Russian banking system, and the same procedure had been in place during 2022 as well.
According to the ministry, if a pension payment was deposited into an open bank account in Russia in 2022, there will be no need to open a new account for 2023. The system is designed to ensure continuity of payments even when international banking channels face added legal constraints. This means that eligible pensioners who already had a Russian account in 2022 can continue receiving benefits without changing their banking arrangements in 2023.
From a social protection perspective, the government signaled a continued adjustment of pensions. In addition to the standard June index, social pensions were to be increased by 3.3 percent starting April 1. This reflects the ongoing commitment to maintaining living standards for retirees and other recipients who rely on social support programs as part of the national pension framework.
Separately, President Vladimir Putin signed a law that changes how pensions and additional social security are paid in the new regions of the Russian Federation. Beginning March 1, pension payments and supplementary social protections for residents in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR), Zaporozhye, and Lugansk regions will be issued according to existing Russian pension rules. The law also extends to individuals who moved to Russia from these areas prior to or during their admission to the Russian Federation.
These measures aim to stabilize pension disbursements for people in politically defined border areas and ensure a consistent approach across regions that have undergone changes in status. Marked as part of the broader realignment of financial support within the country, the rules are meant to minimize disruption for retirees who depend on regular pension payments, regardless of where they reside. Attribution: Ministry of Labour and Social Protection statements and official reports.