“Deserve support”: a law was submitted to the State Duma on conferring the status of “combat veterans” on civilians

A bill has been submitted to the State Duma on granting the status of “combat veteran” to civilians involved in the tasks of a special military operation in support of Donbass.

We are talking about civilian personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, repair teams, doctors and other specialists who help residents of Donbass and the liberated territories.

The document was developed by the United Russia party.

Secretary of the General Council of the United Russia Andrey Turchak expects that the State Duma will consider and adopt the bill "as soon as possible."

“Many of these people risk their lives daily.

But the status of "veteran" is now due to them only in case of injury or injury.

We propose to eliminate this injustice and celebrate everyone who came to Donbass to treat people, build houses, restore infrastructure and help establish a peaceful life.

These people are heroes, and they deserve not only public respect, but also the support of the state,” he said.

According to him, the status of "combat veteran" will provide civilian professionals involved in the SVO, additional social protection, tax benefits and a number of other benefits.

“Due to the highest strategic importance, the fulfillment of tasks during a special military operation on the territory of Ukraine, the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Lugansk People’s Republic from February 24, 2022 should be an indisputable basis for establishing the status of combat veterans for citizens, providing them and their family members with the measures provided for by law support,” the explanatory note to the bill says.

Svetlana Bessarab, a member of the State Duma Committee on Labour, Social Policy and Veterans Affairs, generally supported this legislative initiative.

“I believe that it is necessary to provide preferences and benefits to such people who, by the will of the soul, by the will of the heart or out of a sense of patriotism, go to do their duty.

By the way, many doctors take a leave of absence and go to the Donbass to help people and do very difficult work.

Therefore, of course, I am sure of the need to help such people and determine their special status.

But, in my opinion, not a “combat veteran”, but a status, let’s say, one step lower, ”she said in a conversation with RT.

Director of the Institute for the Study of Contemporary Politics Anton Orlov, in turn, pointed out that this bill could play a positive role in increasing the number of people who want to work for the benefit of the residents of Donbass.

“This bill not only shows the attitude of the authorities towards such “leaders”, people who are ready to sacrifice themselves, but also sets an example for another group of the population, which could also prove themselves and somehow help in the restoration of Donbass.

Simply put, this can give a domino effect, when people who are ready and want to help in the restoration of Donbass will be more actively involved in this, ”said the RT interlocutor.

In March, the State Duma adopted a law recognizing participants in a special operation in Ukraine as combat veterans.

According to the document, various measures of social support will apply to military personnel performing tasks during the military defense in support of Donbass from February 24, 2022.

Among them are additional payments from the state, tax benefits and housing and communal services.

The law, signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, came into force on March 26.

In addition, in April, State Duma deputy Ivan Sukharev proposed raising the amount of the tax deduction for combat veterans to 15,000 rubles.

In early June, his colleague Oleg Matveychev turned to Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu with a request to equate media correspondents working in the combat zone with veterans.

The parliamentarian noted that military correspondents not only perform an important informational mission, covering the course of hostilities, but also daily risk their health and life.

“In this regard, I ask you to consider the possibility of including representatives of the Russian mass media who perform official duties in the war zone and have accreditation from the Ministry of Defense or other state authority, as well as apply to them in full or partial the amount of benefits provided for veterans of hostilities, ”the text of the appeal said.