Russian Soldier Says Moscow Hiding War Deaths to Avoid Paying Families

Moscow is purportedly neglecting to alert family members after a soldier dies in the war with Ukraine to avoid compensating the servicemen's loved ones, according to a phone call intercepted by Ukraine's Military Intelligence (HUR).

In a telephone conversation posted to Telegram by HUR on Friday, a Russian soldier can be heard saying that the Kremlin has been listing deceased fighters as "missing" rather than dead to avoid paying compensation.

"I say, it's beneficial for you to tell me he is not missing, so you don't have to pay for him ... You know, we haven't heard from him for a month and a half," the soldier says during the phone call, according to a translation of the call provided by the Kyiv Post.

The HUR added in its post: "There will be just retribution for every war crime committed against Ukraine."

Newsweek was unable to independently verify HUR's report and an email was sent to Russia's Defense Ministry for comment on Tuesday.

Reports have previously surfaced that Russia was finding ways to avoid delivering on its promise to compensate families of its soldiers killed in war. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree in January 2023, promising to pay beneficiaries of deceased servicemen 5 million rubles, or $53,800. Troops who are injured on the battlefield qualify for a payment of 3 million rubles ($32,280).

In June 2023, the mother of Russian soldier Mikhail Cherkasov told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty that she had been told by Cherkasov's comrades that her son had been killed at war earlier that month. However, Russia's military reportedly ordered to leave Cherkasov's body on the battlefield because it would not be "profitable" to bring him home.

Independent Russian investigative outlet Mozhem Obyasnit (We Can Explain) said in a report published in December that another Russian soldier who had been severely injured along the front lines had only received two buckets of carrots and a bag of onions from the government instead of the money promised. The soldier's wife, Irina Rybkina, told the outlet that her husband was in extreme pain and required knee surgery, but was sent to return to battle without the operation.

"He has severe pain, his knee cannot straighten, and he cannot walk without crutches. He's on painkillers and sleeping pills," Rybkina said.

"What vegetables, what gifts, do I need to replace my husband's joint and get him discharged!" she added.