Struggles of Russian War Veterans: Unemployment Rates Highlight Reintegration Challenges Post-Ukraine Conflict

Almost half of the Russian soldiers who have returned from the front lines in Ukraine are still without jobs, highlighting the difficulties the Kremlin faces in helping combat veterans transition back into civilian life.

A report presented by Deputy Prime Minister Tatiana Golikova on Tuesday revealed that only 57% of veterans demobilized from the conflict in Ukraine have secured employment as of May 1.

Approximately 80% of these individuals have entered into formal employment contracts, while the remaining veterans have registered as self-employed or are engaging in freelance work.

Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin announced that the government has formulated a plan to assist these veterans in finding jobs. He noted that this initiative aims not only to help them secure employment but also to enhance their skills and qualifications and to enable them to acquire new professions.

This plan, which is being implemented with the collaboration of both federal and regional authorities, as well as the state-run Defenders of the Fatherland foundation, encompasses job placement services, vocational training, and incentives for employers.

One proposed measure is to establish a specific procedure that would create quotas and incentives for businesses to hire veterans with disabilities.

However, the reintegration of veterans continues to face significant challenges.

In March, the human rights commissioner of Tatarstan expressed worries regarding the job prospects of veterans who were recruited from prisons. She noted that many of them had no prior work experience, insufficient formal education, and few, if any, transferable skills. Furthermore, employers are often reluctant to hire them, even when their criminal records have been expunged, she added.

In the Samara region, a new law requires companies with over 100 employees to allocate at least 1% of their job openings to returning veterans.

Similarly, the Moscow region implemented a comparable policy earlier this year; however, by April, only around 300 former soldiers had been employed through this quota system.

Additionally, the Kremlin has directed regional authorities to prepare between 30 to 60 veterans annually for civil service positions as part of the state’s “Time of Heroes” initiative. This initiative could lead to 2,500 to 5,000 former soldiers entering bureaucratic roles each year across the country.