Russia’s Defense Ministry proposes delaying December military pay until January

The Russian Defense Ministry is considering postponing the December military pay for service members until January, the independent news outlet Verstka reported. This would be the first such delay in at least 18 years, according to the outlet. Under existing rules, soldiers receive payment for the previous month between the 10th and 20th of each month, with the December payment due by December 25.

If approved, the changes could commence as early as this year. However, personnel in the Joint Group of Forces engaged in combat operations in Ukraine would remain exempt from this adjustment and continue receiving payments as per the old schedule. Contract soldiers are also expected to receive a bonus alongside their December pay.

Since at least 2008, Russian military personnel have been receiving their December salary before the end of the year, as confirmed by official records reviewed by Verstka. The practice was likely followed during the Soviet era as well. In Stavropol Krai, authorities recently decided to postpone payments to the families of those killed and wounded in the war until 2027, a decision reported just the day prior.

Currently, these payments are expected to be received within five business days of claim approval, but authorities may delay payment if the regional Labor Ministry's account is short on funds. Additionally, many regions have been reducing the amount of payments sent to families of the deceased. For instance, in Ulyanovsk region, payments were cut by 20 times, while in Saratov region, a reduction of 10 times was implemented.