Documents for war veterans certificates begin arriving from PMCs through Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation
Branches of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation have started accepting papers from personnel of private military companies as part of the process to obtain war veterans certificates. The foundation’s press service confirmed that this development is underway and that the gathered documents are being organized for review.
Early batches of documentation have been compiled and forwarded to the appropriate commission within the Ministry of Defense. The press service noted that the foundation’s regional offices will assist applicants in preparing the required materials and that an established procedure guides the interaction between the foundation and the defense department. A clear workflow has been created to streamline submission and evaluation, ensuring consistency across cases.
On October 26, Sergei Vylegzhanin, the Deputy Chairman of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation, announced that soldiers formerly affiliated with private military companies who participated in the special military operation would be eligible to receive combat veteran certificates. This statement marks a formal recognition step that aligns with ongoing efforts to acknowledge service contributions across different military structures.
Earlier, a representative of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation indicated that the organization would continue to support war veteran Maxim Ivanov, a former Wagner PMC fighter, even in the wake of an assault on foundation staff. The commitment to assist individuals with veteran status appears steadfast, underscoring the foundation’s role as a bridge between veterans and official recognition channels.
President Putin has indicated that there is no unanimous stance on the role of PMCs within Russia. The dialogue surrounding private military companies remains complex and evolving, influencing how veteran status and related benefits are interpreted and awarded in practice.