State Duma passes law giving Wagner mercenaries ‘combat veteran’ status

The State Duma passed a bill that will allow Wagner Group mercenaries who have taken part in the Russia-Ukraine war to receive veteran and combat disabled status.

The law, reports Interfax, applies to “persons fulfilling a contract (or who have other legal relations) with an organization involved in fulfilling the tasks assigned to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation during the course of the special military operation.” Members of the armed formations associated with the self-proclaimed Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics since May 11, 2014 will also become eligible for combat veteran status.

One of the bill’s authors, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin, explained its necessity:

Everyone who risks his life today protecting our country during the course of the SVO [special military operation] should have an equal status as a combat veteran, should be assured that the government will take care of him and his family regardless of whether he was a soldier, an officer, a volunteer, or anyone who participated in carrying out the SVO.