Siberian Governor Dismisses Entire Cabinet Amid Controversy Over Soldier Compensation Payments

On Tuesday, the governor of Siberia’s Zabaikalsky region dismissed his entire cabinet following a request from Russia’s chief prosecutor for local law enforcement to reinstate government payments to families of soldiers who died in Ukraine.

Governor Alexander Osipov announced that his deputies and regional ministers would remain in their positions as «acting» officials until he appoints new individuals to those roles.

“Their performance in addressing public concerns will serve as a test of their abilities,” Osipov stated during an emergency meeting called to discuss issues raised by Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov.

Last week, Krasnov instructed regional prosecutor Alexander Yanovsky to investigate complaints from the widows and surviving relatives of soldiers who had reportedly stopped receiving government compensation known informally as “coffin money.”

“I find it hard to comprehend the cessation of aid. To me, this reflects a disturbing form of official cruelty,” Krasnov remarked while visiting Chita, the regional capital.

Zabaikalsky region ranks 22nd among Russia’s regions for the number of soldiers killed in Ukraine, with an independent media report identifying 1,809 names amid a total death toll of 111,500.

During the emergency meeting with prosecutor Yanovsky, Governor Osipov expressed his disapproval of the payment cuts.

He mentioned that an interdepartmental commission and prosecutors would assess the performance of the dismissed cabinet members to inform future hiring decisions.

“This presents an opportunity for all involved to reflect on whether they can effectively fulfil their responsibilities under the current circumstances.”