Conflict-seasoned veterans hail from Voronezh region and Kuban
Russian Combat Veterans Recognized for Defense Against Ukrainian Attacks
As of August 2025, Russian combat veterans who have defended various Russian regions against Ukrainian attacks have been officially granted army veteran status by law. This recognition extends to those who served in the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions since these territories joined Russia.
To qualify for this status, individuals must have served at least six months or have been discharged early for valid reasons and have special merits in achieving the operational missions. This also applies to military rescue personnel from the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry involved in explosive ordnance neutralization in these areas during the special military operation.
The legislative recognition of combat veterans reflects Russia's formal acknowledgment of service related to the special military operation and the defense of its newly incorporated regions against Ukrainian attacks. It marks a significant step in recognizing combat service in these areas, which would include defense operations against Ukrainian military actions, such as air strikes.
However, there is no publicly available data that specifically updates the status or recognition for those who defended regions not listed in the law, such as the Kursk, Bryansk, Belgorod, Voronezh regions, and cities in the Krasnodar region: Novorossiysk, Gelendzhik, and Anapa.
In the Kursk region, Ukrainian attack aircraft attempted to break through to Tetkino, but the article does not specify whether the repulsion of Ukrainian air attacks in the Voronezh region took place. It is also worth noting that since the Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) became part of Russia, there have been no ground combat actions in the Voronezh region.
This recognition as combat veterans is based on their participation in the defense of these regions, and it is not limited to those who participated in ground combat actions. The document grants participants the right to obtain combat veteran status, and it does not provide details about the nature or duration of the defense activities that qualify for this status.
The article does not provide any new information about the benefits or privileges associated with combat veteran status in Russia. However, the legal framework extends veteran benefits to those active in these contested territories, including the defense against Ukrainian air and other attacks.
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- Beyond the recognitions in law, there is a need for policy-and-legislation and politics to address the status of combat veterans in regions like the Kursk, Bryansk, Belgorod, Voronezh, and cities in the Krasnodar region such as Novorossiysk, Gelendzhik, and Anapa, who have also defended Russia against Ukrainian attacks.
- The war-and-conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, particularly in the regions that have joined Russia, have given rise to general-news stories about the defenses and attacks, but little is known about the benefits or privileges associated with combat veteran status for those defending these regions, especially outside those listed in laws and policies.
