"These people can be trusted": former Wagner mercenaries will be able to receive the status of "SVO" veteran if their services are confirmed by certain eyewitnesses.

Former employees of other private military companies will be able to obtain status based on eyewitness accounts, Russia's Deputy Defense Minister announced. Anna Tsivileva. What will constitute evidence and who the eyewitnesses should be is not specified.

All participants in the "special military operation" fighting under contract can now obtain a combat veteran ID card. This can be done at the military registration and enlistment office at their place of registration, place of service, or place of residence.

However, this procedure was more difficult for PMCs. Last winter, Vladimir Putin instructed The government should amend the law to grant combat veteran status to those who participated in "special operations" without a contract with the Ministry of Defense. 

In December 2023, Anna Tsivileva, who is also the chairperson of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation, issued At a ceremony in Moscow, 32 Wagner PMC fighters were awarded combat veteran certificates. By that time, the Fatherland Defenders Foundation had issued about 500 certificates.

At the same time, the PMC participants complained Vladimir Putin is facing uncertainty about his legal status and the lack of social benefits. The president called this "the problem of the Ministry of Defense".

Photo: State Foundation "Defenders of the Fatherland"