1/ Compensation payments to families of fallen Russian soldiers have fallen precipitously, by as much as 95% in some regions. It appears to be part of an ongoing trend, caused by budget shortfalls, of less and less value being placed on Russia's war dead. ⬇️
2/ For the first few years of the Ukraine war, Russia's regions – which are the federal government's principal recruiting agents for the war in Ukraine – made substantial compensation payments to the families of soldiers who died in action. 3/ This made signing up to fight a more attractive prospect, as soldiers could look forward to the prospect of their deaths paying off their mortgages or loans. Some joined specifically so that their families could benefit from the "coffin money" that came with their deaths. 4/ However, over the course of 2026 the scale of the payouts has diminished greatly. Russian warblogger Yuri Baranchik highlights the trend across multiple regions: ♦️ Bashkortostan: 95% reduction from 2 million rubles to 100,000 ($23,600 to $1,180) 5/ ♦️ Ulyanovsk: 95% reduction from 1 million rubles to 50,000 ($11,800 to $590) ♦️ Kemerovo: 66.7% reduction from 3 million rubles to 1 million ($35,400 to $11,800) ♦️ Omsk & Kirov: 50% reduction from 1 million rubles to 500,000 ($11,800 to $5,900) 6/ ♦️ Saratov: 90% reduction from 1 million rubles to 100,000 ($11,800 to $1,180) ♦️ Orenburg: 100% reduction with a total cancellation of compensation payments as of 1 July 2026. 7/ Baranchik comments that "you shouldn't mistakenly assume that all the family of a fallen serviceman receives is that 100,000. The 100,000 were exclusively regional payments, made in the regions in addition to all the other federal and departmental ones." 8/ "But the fact is telling. Especially given that payments to individuals who signed new contracts with the Ministry of Defence are being maintained at the same level or even increased. What's going on? It's very simple. It's a matter of self-interest. 9/ "The regions are interested in attracting new contract soldiers to report to Moscow. But the flow of new contract soldiers is declining, and the desire to serve requires increased motivation, including financial incentives. 10/ "The regions are faced with a financial dilemma: pay the dead, who are naturally no longer able to continue serving, or spend funds on attracting new contract soldiers to the Ministry of Defence. 11/ "And, apparently, the choice has been made in favour of attracting new contract soldiers, whose flow, according to some data, has declined recently. 12/ "It's also noteworthy that the reduction in payments occurred almost simultaneously in several regions of the country. However, there are regions that are maintaining payments at the same level or even increasing them. But overall, the trend is alarming..." /end Source: t.me