Russia boosts war budget while regional death benefits for soldiers' families plummet
Russia's military spending continues to rise in its fifth year of the Ukraine invasion, even as several regions sharply reduce death benefits for families of fallen soldiers.
In the fifth year of its large-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia is allocating more resources to its armed forces while simultaneously trimming compensation for the relatives of deceased servicemen. The Ulyanovsk region reduced the payout from 1 million rubles to 500,000 rubles in February 2026, then to 50,000 rubles in April. Kemerovo cut its benefit to a third of the previous amount, Omsk halved it, Bashkortostan lowered it to one-fifth, and Saratov reduced the sum to a tenth of its former level.
These cuts represent reductions of up to 95 percent across the affected regions. The contrast highlights a growing fiscal strain as the war persists, prompting local governments to seek savings even for families of the fallen.
Why it matters
The story shows how Russia's war effort strains its budget, leading to severe cuts in support for soldiers' families.
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