Russians have introduced nearly 200 candidates who have participated in the Ukraine war for this week's parliamentary elections. These candidates are featured in party lists, promotional videos, and television debates, and are recognized as part of Russia's "true elite."
Election Management by the Kremlin
Election officials have announced that nearly 200 candidates have a history of service in Ukraine, and the Kremlin uses them as symbols of its four-and-a-half-year war. They intend to show that these veterans will hold a respectable place in civil life. However, analysts believe that most of them will never hold real power among the ruling class of the country and view this move as an attempt to attract more volunteers for the war.
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Conditions and Challenges for Veterans
Independent Russian media regularly report on veterans involved in violence, brutal conflicts, and even murders. Some of these crimes have been committed by individuals who have been recruited from prison for military service. The elections for the Duma, the lower house of parliament, will begin on Friday and are the first elections held since the start of the war in Ukraine. These elections will also take place in regions of Ukraine that Russia has occupied and illegally annexed.
The Kremlin carefully manages these elections to bolster its narrative of widespread support for the war and to provide an appearance of legitimacy for its actions. Most parties close to the Kremlin that are allowed to participate in the elections have candidates who are recognized as participants in the special military operation (SVO) in Ukraine.
One prominent candidate, Vladislav Golovin, 29, from the "United Russia" party, participated in the battle for the port of Mariupol in Ukraine and lost part of his leg. He has appeared at events with Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, who has introduced him as a hero of Russia.
In 2024, Golovin participated in Putin's "Time of Heroes" program, which prepares veterans for government jobs. He now heads a patriotic youth military organization called "Young Army," but he is also on Western sanctions lists.
The United Russia party has several candidates with a history of the Ukraine war. Another leading candidate, Yevgeny Pododny, a war correspondent with strong connections in state television, was injured by a Ukrainian drone. In a promotional video, he says, "We are the ones our homeland has asked to fight for the 'Russian World,' and we will fight."
The Ukrainian police released a photo of Voroshchagin in March and announced that they are investigating his role in attacks on homes and threats to citizens in the Kyiv region in 2022. He has fought against Ukraine for over a decade and has yet to respond to these allegations.
By promoting veterans in the Duma campaign, the Kremlin wants to convey to applicants that they are fighting for a greater cause and have a bright future in their career advancement. However, many analysts believe that Russia does not know what to do with veterans returning from the battlefield and mainly offers them insignificant positions with little real power.
The post-war path for many veterans is not straightforward. Most who have signed military contracts cannot cancel them under Putin's "partial mobilization" in 2022, and those called up that year have not yet been released. Additionally, in specific cases, some units have reported offering limited tours of service.
About 167,000 soldiers have returned from Ukraine, a figure announced by a government official, Sergei Novikov, in December. However, Russian media and experts believe this number is likely higher. Competition for the "Time of Heroes" program is intense and requires higher education and management experience. Of more than 65,000 applicants in 2024-25, only 168 were accepted, and some of them were appointed to various positions at national, regional, or local levels.
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Source: abcnews.com
