Ukraine War Veterans Pose a Threat to the Kremlin. So Putin Is Bringing Them Onside.
History shows that discontent among veterans is politically dangerous. The Kremlin thinks easing their entry into politics could prevent that problem.
The recent election of veterans from the war in Ukraine to Russia's State Duma has been seen as a strategic move by President Putin to further militarize Russian politics and society. With veterans comprising nearly 10% of the lower chamber of parliament, this trend reflects the emergence of a new political constituency produced by the conflict.
The Kremlin has actively managed the number of veterans entering parliament, with United Russia initially claiming 86 veterans were elected, later revised to 49. The latest election is part of a broader reshaping of Russia's political system, with Putin's Time of Heroes program aiming to equip patriotic veterans for senior government roles and top positions in state-linked companies.
The integration of veterans into politics has led to the registration of over 1,600 veteran candidates in municipal and regional elections in 2025, with United Russia offering bonuses to veterans in some regions to encourage participation. However, the presence of some newly elected deputies accused of war crimes in Ukraine, such as Nursultan Mussagaleev and Adam Delimkhanov, highlights the complexities and potential risks of this political integration.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Moscow Times - Opinion's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
