A Russian soldier killed in Ukraine could leave his family with more money than he would have earned in a lifetime, according to Russian economist Vladislav Inozemtsev.
Payments made by Moscow to families of fallen soldiers are reportedly having an unexpected impact on reducing poverty in certain regions of Russia, according to Ziare.
Three years into the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian government has spent substantial sums on compensation for the families of soldiers killed on the battlefield.
Western estimates suggest that around 600,000 Russian soldiers have died in the war to date.
Exceeds Lifetime Earnings
Families of fallen soldiers can receive significant payouts. For instance, a 35-year-old soldier killed after a year of service might leave his family with up to 14.5 million rubles (approximately €138,000) in death benefits and wages.
This figure, before additional bonuses or life insurance payouts, exceeds the lifetime earnings of many workers in Russia, particularly in economically disadvantaged regions.
Russia’s poverty rate has reached its lowest level since records began in 1995. Analysts partially attribute this trend to the nearly €25 billion the Kremlin has spent on compensation for fallen soldiers’ families over the past year.
The economic incentive could be one of the reasons why Moscow continues to maintain high recruitment levels for its military.
Analysts estimate Russia needs approximately 30,000 new recruits each month to replace the soldiers lost in Ukraine.
This high demand has led Russia to seek support from allies, including North Korea, to sustain its military efforts.
