Since the start of 2023, regional authorities in Russia have spent at least 150 million rubles ($1.5 million USD) on monuments dedicated to soldiers killed in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Poorest Region Spent More
Data on public procurement shows that 34 contracts have been signed for memorial construction, according to Hotnews.
These agreements span across multiple regions, even though big parts of the Russian regions face severe economic challenges, due to the ongoing war.
One of the highest spenders is the Transbaikal region, in the Russian Far East, where local authorities allocated more than 42 million rubles ($445,000 USD) to memorialize soldiers who died in Ukraine.
This region, frequently ranked among Russia’s poorest, has lost at least 1,212 soldiers since the conflict began.
716 Military Casualties in One Region
The Republic of Tuva, located in southern Siberia, follows closely behind with over 23 million rubles ($245,000 USD) spent on war monuments.
Tuva has suffered 716 military casualties. Additionally, the Arctic Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District has invested more than 21 million rubles ($222,000 USD) for both memorials and cemetery expansions after losing 252 soldiers.
These figures reveal the severe economic challenges many regions face while prioritizing honoring soldiers who died in Ukraine. Despite significant losses and regional poverty, memorial construction continues to receive substantial funding.
