The State Duma has advanced a significant policy change by adopting a law that recognizes participants in the Russian Armed Forces Special Operation in Ukraine and in the Donbass as combat veterans. In three concurrent readings, delegates voted in favor of extending veteran status to service members who carried out tasks during the operation in Ukraine, as well as in the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics. The decision was publicly reported on the Duma’s website and underscores a pivotal shift in how military service in these theaters is categorized for veteran benefits and recognition.
Vyacheslav Volodin, the Speaker of the State Duma, explained that the new statute confers combat veteran status on personnel who performed duties during the special operation. This designation now encompasses soldiers operating in Ukraine and those stationed in the self-proclaimed republics of Donetsk and Luhansk, aligning their service with the broader framework of veteran recognition in Russia.
Under the document, recognizing these troops as combat veterans paves the way for an array of benefits. These include access to tax relief, transportation advantages, land and housing support measures, and social assistance for utility payments. The change is framed as expanding the safety net for veterans, complementing existing programs that previously covered veterans of other conflicts. The newly addressed groups join those previously designated as combat veterans, such as veterans of Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Syria, in receiving these supports.
The initiative originated with Andrey Turchak, Secretary of the General Council of United Russia. He highlighted that veteran status would translate into monthly payments, tax exemptions, free train travel, comprehensive medical care, and a range of other benefits meant to ease everyday life for those who served in these operations. The proposal reflects an effort to acknowledge and support servicemen and women who operated in the context of the Ukraine-related mission and in the territorial administrations aligned with the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Overall, the passage of this law marks a formal reclassification of a segment of military personnel within Russia’s veteran landscape. By granting combat veteran status to these operators, the government seeks to recognize the risks and demands faced during the special operation, ensuring access to benefits that have historically applied to veterans of other theaters. The policy shift also signals an intent to standardize veteran protections across different campaigns, reinforcing social and economic support for those who served in the specified locales and roles.