Citizens of select municipalities in Kuban are eligible to receive the title of Combat Veteran.
Russia Grants Combat Veteran Status to Defenders of Border Territories Under Attack by Ukrainian Forces
The Russian government has approved a list of territories that have been subjected to attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, making local defenders in these regions eligible for combat veteran status. The current list includes 11 areas, bordering what Russia refers to as "special military operation zones" and experiencing regular attacks from Ukrainian forces.
The territories in question are:
- Crimea and the city of Sevastopol
- The Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod regions
- Several Black Sea resort cities within Krasnodar Krai, including Anapa, Novorossiysk, and Gelendzhik
- Areas around Voronezh, specifically Kantemirovsky and Rossoshansky municipal districts
- The Temryuk district of the Krasnodar Krai
These territories have endured missile strikes, incursions, drone attacks, and shelling from Ukrainian forces. The designation allows local "defense participants" in these regions to receive veteran or combat-disabled status, along with benefits such as pension supplements, monthly payments, university admission preferences for veterans' children, and subsidized travel.
The Kursk region is of particular concern due to Ukrainian control of parts of the region after incursions in August 2024. Meanwhile, Bryansk and Belgorod face regular cross-border shelling and reconnaissance raids. Krasnodar Krai resort cities and areas around Voronezh have been targeted by Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries and infrastructure, causing industrial disruption.
In a bid to ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place for the newly designated combat veterans, the mayor of Krasnodar, Yevgeny Naumov, has emphasized the importance of equipping the lands in Lazurnoye and Koptelovo with all necessary facilities, including electricity, water, and gas. Electricity will be the first infrastructure provided in these areas.
This policy shift reflects the Russian government's commitment to recognizing combat veteran status not only for troops engaged in Ukraine proper but also for local defenders in border and attacked territories on Russian soil neighboring Ukraine. The amendments to the federal law "On Veterans," approved by the President in April 2025, make military personnel, law enforcement officers, and members of volunteer formations who participated in repelling invasions in the Kursk region and armed provocations in the listed territories eligible for combat veteran status.
[1] Source: Russian government press release, August 2025.
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