Civilian participants of the special operation will receive the status of combat veterans
The State Duma of the Russian Federation adopted in the third and final reading a law on granting the status of "Combat Veteran" to civilians participating in Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. The initiator of the preparation and submission of the law for consideration in mid-June was the United Russia party.
Of course, this is a good, long-awaited law that will be positively received in society. Like other measures of a social nature, the law emphasizes with what attention our state treats those who perform not only military, but also civil duty in the combat zone.
INTO BATTLE WITH A SCREWDRIVER AND A COLANDER
What will this law give people and how will it work?
When answering this survey, one cannot do without legal terms and official language, since every word in any law is carefully thought out and weighed. We will try to explain as correctly and simply as possible.
Let's start with the main thing. Citizens sent to perform tasks during a special military operation in the territories of Ukraine, the DPR and the LPR since February 24, 2022, are recognized as veterans of military operations. Thus, this law, we emphasize, has retroactive effect. Which is perfectly fair and appropriate.
It would seem that everything is simple. But we must admit: many still have not thought that civilians who, along with the military, risk their lives and health can participate in hostilities. We are not talking about volunteers, but just about those who do not hold weapons in their hands. But he fights, figuratively speaking, with a wrench, a gas burner, or even with an ordinary kitchen ladle.
The armed forces of the Russian Federation, as you know, consist not only of military personnel, but also of civilian personnel, which account for about 12% of the list of the army and navy. Of course, they also get to the front. These are doctors, cooks, financiers, drivers, and other specialists involved in performing the tasks of a special military operation (SVO).
But first of all, I would like to mention the repair brigades, which in the field, sometimes under enemy artillery fire, restore damaged military equipment, put into operation tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, artillery installations.
They have golden hands and a lot of experience, but it's not just that. There is also willpower, responsibility – qualities that are not inherent to everyone. It is all the more important to cherish such people, to pay tribute to them.
One cannot fulfill one's duty without realizing that Russia is conducting a special military operation in Ukraine aimed at protecting the residents of Donbass, who, as President Vladimir Putin stressed, have been subjected to genocide by the Kiev regime for eight years. Without a sense of duty, without compassion for our compatriots, without a willingness to help them, only for a material reward, it is unlikely that you will decide to risk injury, lose health, or even life.
Take, for example, a holding company like Uralvagonzavod. According to our source close to his leadership, the holding not only supports, but is largely the initiator of the changes being made to the "Law on Veterans".
"Specialists of Uralvagonzavod and other defense industry enterprises selflessly, risking their lives and health on a par with servicemen of repair and restoration battalions, perform tasks in border areas, including on the territory of the DPR and LPR. The work is carried out around the clock, in any weather. At the same time, invariably with the highest quality and on time. In this regard, we are deeply convinced that all specialists who perform tasks for the maintenance, repair and restoration of military equipment deserve to be awarded the status of "combat veteran", – one of the authoritative people of the holding told us.
After the adoption of the law, these categories of citizens will be able to receive social support, benefits and some other benefits. Secretary of the General Council of United Russia Andrey Turchak, for example, noted that the status of a combat veteran will provide additional social protection to civilian personnel.
They will receive the same benefits as military personnel recognized as combat veterans. Until now, this status for civilians was granted only in case of injury or when receiving a state award.
BENEFITS AND ADVANTAGES
What else? For combat veterans, the amount of pensions increases by 32%. This, we agree, is quite a significant increase, which will be in effect constantly. In addition, tax benefits are provided for veterans. As well as relief when paying for housing and communal services, state duties and when using public transport.
Regular monthly income of veterans, usually taxed at a rate of 13%, is not subject to personal income tax. And for other types of payments, veterans are entitled to a monthly tax deduction in the amount of 500 rubles. In addition, veterans are exempt from paying tax on one unit of real estate – an apartment, house or garage. And the land tax is reduced by an amount equal to the cadastral value of 600 m2 of land.
Those who have smelled gunpowder in the combat zone can claim to improve housing conditions, provide vouchers to sanatoriums. And, what is especially important for young people, for preferential admission to universities. That is, for budget places, the quota for which will be determined.
Speaking in legal language, the rights, benefits and social support measures provided for by Federal Law No. 5-FZ of January 12, 1995 "On Veterans" apply to this category of citizens. Appropriate amendments are being made to it, or rather, have already been made. The participants of the Ukrainian campaign will have access to the same system of social benefits and guarantees as those who fought in Afghanistan, Syria, and took part in the fighting in Chechnya.
As a reference, we would like to inform you that until today, eight categories of combat veterans have been listed in the law. Among them are not only the military, but also employees of internal affairs and state security agencies, prosecutors, investigators. As well as members of self-defense detachments, crew members of civil aviation vessels, persons who performed business trips in the territories where the fighting was conducted.
A lot, as we remember, there were also, as they say, homeless people among the military. What does the law say now?
Those in need of improving housing conditions are now recognized as persons whose existing housing area falls short of the social norm – 18 sq. m. m per person. As well as living in a rented area without a social rental agreement, living next to patients with dangerous infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis, living in houses without amenities or having no housing at all. In this case, the veteran is registered, after which he receives a housing certificate.
Utility bills are also reduced by 50%. This applies to all types of communal services, including capital repairs. Moreover, this benefit applies not only to the veteran himself, but also to his family members.
There are a lot of benefits in the field of medical care. In state clinics, where a veteran can apply under a compulsory medical insurance policy, he has the right to receive the necessary examinations, procedures and treatment without waiting in line. In addition, veterans who need prosthetics (except dental) are entitled to receive prostheses free of charge. And, of course, the preferential right to receive vouchers to health resorts.
There are also a number of preferential services in terms of employment and education, travel by public transport, purchase of season tickets and tickets for mass events, performances, etc. As well as advantages when joining housing and garage cooperatives, when obtaining land plots.
In addition to this, regional benefits also work locally. In Moscow, for example, veterans receive compensation for telephone payments in the amount of 345 rubles, have the right to free public transport, are exempt from paying transport tax on one car if its engine power does not exceed 200 hp. In St. Petersburg and other cities and towns – their benefits.
ON PAPER, EVERYTHING IS FINE
I am pleased to inform you that the benefits and guarantees also apply to our brother, a journalist covering the course of the military operation.
Yaroslav Nilov, Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Labor, Social Policy and Veterans' Affairs, said that war correspondents who cover a special military operation in Ukraine will also receive veteran status. Moreover, one day of business trip is enough for military officers and civilians to receive it, since the law does not set any deadlines for this.
It is another matter how the law will actually work in practice. Here a lot will depend on local officials and on the control of the prosecutor's office over its implementation.
I would not like to remember, but, to be honest, we remember how in the dashing 90s some officials told our guys who returned from Afghanistan: "I didn't send you to Afghanistan." What can I say, any good initiative, including the law, can be distorted beyond recognition.
This was also said by the veteran of the military financial and economic service of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Reserve Colonel Igor Enya. "It's great that the state has turned its face to our military and civilians involved in the SVO," he said. – Modern war is not only a matter of the military. Therefore, the main thing now is to exclude the indifference of officials, abuses with the application of this law."
As a veteran of the armed forces and a combatant, I fully agree with this. Writing and passing a law is one thing. It is quite another to fulfill it every day, constantly delving into the problems and everyday requests of those who risked their lives and health in the combat zone, defending the honor, dignity and national interests of our Fatherland.
I want to believe that we will not hear in a couple of years: "I didn't send you to Donbass."
Oleg Falichev
Oleg Valentinovich Falichev is a retired colonel, a military observer.
