560 Million KRW Paid to Disabled Soldiers
1.4 Million KRW Paid to Mildly Injured Soldiers
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to provide a one-time compensation of up to 4 million rubles (approximately 56 million KRW) to soldiers who sustained serious injuries and disabilities during the Ukraine 'special military operation.'
On the 15th (local time), Kyiv Post and others reported that a presidential decree increasing the disability compensation for soldiers participating in the special military operation to 4 million rubles was posted on the official Russian legal information internet portal.
Previously, all soldiers injured in the Ukraine war received compensation of 3 million rubles (approximately 42 million KRW) regardless of the severity of their injuries. Additionally, the families of fallen soldiers were paid 5 million rubles (approximately 70 million KRW). However, under the newly announced compensation plan, soldiers who sustained serious injuries resulting in disabilities will receive an additional 1 million rubles (approximately 14 million KRW).
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is on a state visit to Vietnam, is holding a press conference in Hanoi on June 20 (local time). Photo by Yonhap News
However, a system to differentiate compensation based on the severity of injuries was also introduced this time. Severely injured soldiers will receive 3 million rubles, moderately injured soldiers will receive 1 million rubles, and those with minor injuries will receive 100,000 rubles (approximately 1.4 million KRW).
Earlier, Russian media reported that there were criticisms that receiving the same compensation regardless of injury severity was unfair. In fact, some even deliberately tried to get injured to receive compensation.
Nevertheless, there is considerable criticism that this measure effectively amounts to a 'reduction in compensation.' Initially, the Russian government promised to pay 3 million rubles to all injured soldiers to boost morale, but this was reversed, lowering the minimum payment to 100,000 rubles. There are also concerns that if doctors diagnose the severity of injuries as lower than actual, soldiers may not receive proper compensation.
Meanwhile, claims have emerged that the Russian military suffered the highest casualties since the outbreak of the Ukraine war last month. According to the British BBC on the 10th, General Tony Radakin, Chief of the UK Defence Staff, stated that an average of 1,500 Russian troops were killed or wounded daily during October. Russia, which has been at war with Ukraine for over two and a half years, has not officially disclosed casualty figures, but Western officials believe Russia lost the most troops since the start of the war last month.
General Radakin added that the total number of Russian military casualties since the outbreak in February 2022 is approximately 700,000. He also emphasized that Russia is spending more than 40% of its public expenditure on war costs, describing it as a "tremendous loss" for the country.
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