A working group addressing issues around missing military personnel has proposed bills to the State Duma aimed at easing the process for recognizing fighters as missing or dead. This message came from Andrei Turchak, the First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council, during a public discussion delivered through the federation channel.
The topic is described as profoundly painful but essential for families facing such situations. In conversations with relatives of soldiers who were lost in combat operations across several regions, the group incorporated these concerns into the first report submitted to the President along with accompanying legislative proposals. The urgency behind these measures stems from the emotional burden families bear while waiting and from a bureaucratic system that can feel slow and opaque.
Turchak noted that confirming a death under hostile conditions is not always straightforward. The existing bureaucratic framework can extend the period during which social support and other critical forms of assistance are inaccessible to families during long waits. Currently, the practice requires a two-year waiting window after hostilities end before a death can be officially acknowledged for a missing soldier. The proposed change would allow a death to be declared based on a commander’s statement that witnessed the death, thereby speeding recognition and access to aid.
When there are no direct eyewitnesses to a death, the process to recognize a soldier as missing can last up to six months before a determination is made. Under the proposed amendments, relatives could start the process to have a soldier declared dead through the courts after obtaining missing-person status. This shift aims to reduce ongoing uncertainty for families and to streamline the transition from missing status to a formal death designation, enabling quicker access to social benefits, pensions, and other supports tied to the official recognition of a soldier’s status.
Turchak emphasized that the new rules would apply to all cases of missing military personnel dating from February 24, 2022 onward. This time frame keeps the policy’s reach clear and ensures consistent handling for recent cases, while providing a stable framework for ongoing cases that meet the criteria.
Earlier communications indicated that Turçak reported the first published report from the working group on issues linked to the operation was delivered to the President. The document reportedly summarized the main topics addressed during roughly six weeks of concentrated work, including social support measures for service members and their families, logistical considerations, and legislative proposals tailored for mobilized personnel as well as regular armed forces. The discussions surrounding this report reflect a broader commitment to improving welfare and administrative processes related to military service, reducing administrative friction for families, and increasing clarity in procedures that govern the recognition of missing personnel and the provision of related social resources.