Putin Grants Debt Relief to New Ukraine War Recruits and Their Families

The Kremlin announced late Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree exempting newly recruited soldiers in the Ukraine war and their families from debts, enhancing Moscow's support measures to strengthen its military amid the ongoing conflict lasting over four years.

The decree, published on the Kremlin's website, states that individuals who signed contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense from May 1 onward, along with their spouses or both, will be exempt from debts up to 10 million rubles (approximately $139,700) if the legal claim to collect those debts was active before that date.

The Kremlin specified that the contract to join the "special military operation"—the term Russia uses for its invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022—must be for a minimum duration of one year.

This decree supplements various support measures for Russian fighters in the war, ranging from substantial payments to preferential admission to higher education. These efforts come as the Kremlin seeks to reinforce its forces amid stalled U.S.-led peace talks.

Each side accuses the other of attempting to escalate the conflict. Ukraine is preparing to send reinforcements to its northern regions to counter what it perceives as Russian plans for a new offensive.