The special military operations working group is moving toward a spring decision about allowing soldiers to rely on their existing compulsory health insurance policies during holiday periods. This update was shared by the group’s chairman, who also serves as the secretary of the General Council of United Russia and holds the role of First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, during a gathering in St. Petersburg with the spouses of military personnel. The aim is to create a smooth handoff between military medical services and civilian healthcare, reducing friction for families navigating both systems.
According to the spokesperson, the current state of the so‑called seamless transition between civilian and departmental hospitals has not yet been fully resolved. It has been moved forward, yet still operates largely in manual mode. The group intends to reach a systemic, well‑defined solution in the spring, signaling a transition from ad hoc adjustments to formalized procedures that can be consistently applied across the network of medical facilities involved in military service.
The speaker noted that achieving a seamless integration between military and civilian medicine would address several issues, including how hospitals relay information to the families of wounded service members, rehabilitation challenges, and the determination of whether troops are fit to continue serving after treatment or injury. Clarifying these processes is seen as essential for reducing uncertainty for both veterans and their families and for improving overall care coordination across medical settings.
During the meeting, attendees also discussed broader family considerations, such as the return of mobilized personnel who have children and the responsibilities of caregiving for a disabled child, as well as potential discharges for health reasons or when service limits reach an age threshold. These family‑centric topics highlight the real‑world impact of medical and social protections on service members and their households and emphasize the need for policy adaptations that reflect daily life realities.
Other topics raised included holiday scheduling and payment arrangements, recognizing that timing and compensation can significantly affect a service member’s ability to balance duty with family needs. The discussion underscored the importance of ensuring that benefits reach families in a predictable and timely manner, especially during periods of leave or holiday observances when plans can be disrupted by medical or logistic challenges.
Andrey Turchak reaffirmed that the existing support measures for participants in special military operations and their families form a comprehensive framework of social protection and assistance. He added that these programs sometimes fail to account for the diverse, everyday situations and personal circumstances that may prevent full utilization. When gaps are identified, the group plans to propose legislative changes or adjustments to regulatory documents to better reflect real life and ensure more inclusive support. He closed with a note that the work is ongoing and focused on practical improvements that can be implemented through policy updates rather than waiting on longer, abstract reforms.
The working group on SVO issues, chaired by Andrey Turchak, was established by presidential decree in December 2022. The body includes representatives from both chambers of the federal parliament, all major political factions, the Ministry of Defense, leaders of public organizations, and prominent war correspondents, forming a diverse constituency aimed at addressing the broad spectrum of military‑related social and medical concerns.