On 1 November, the Saratov region in Russia announced a significant reduction in compensation for families of soldiers killed in Ukraine, cutting the payout from one million rubles to 100,000 rubles. This decision was made following a government decree issued on 29 September, which reduced the compensation by a factor of ten. Similar reductions have been reported in other Russian regions in recent months, marking a shift from the relatively stable compensation levels that had been in place since the start of the invasion in 2022. In the Bashkortostan republic, the compensation for families of fallen soldiers has been reduced three times since autumn 2025, bringing it down from two million rubles to 100,000 rubles. Meanwhile, the Kirov and Omsk regions have each halved the compensation, reducing it from one million rubles to 500,000 rubles at the beginning of this year. In the Irkutsk region, a proposed reduction that would have halved the compensation was withdrawn by the regional legislative assembly on 20 May. Economist Janis Kluge notes that these cuts are significant because the compensation had remained unchanged since the invasion began in February 2022. Unlike enlistment bonuses, which are designed to encourage men to join the military, compensation for injury or death is not directly tied to recruitment efforts. The reductions come amid a worsening budget situation at the regional level in Russia. According to the Russian Audit Office, 56 regions experienced budget deficits in the first quarter of this year, an increase from 46 the previous year. Additionally, 74 out of 85 regions ended 2025 with budget deficits, as reported by the rating agency ACRA. Sberbank, a major Russian bank, predicts a cumulative regional budget deficit of 2,000 billion rubles this year. In contrast, in 2021, before the invasion of Ukraine, Russian regions recorded a surplus of about 400 billion rubles. The compensation provided at the regional level is significantly lower than the amounts paid by the federal government, which exceeds 10 million rubles per soldier killed. For the Kremlin, the families of soldiers killed in Ukraine and veterans have become an increasingly important political group, especially as the human cost of the war continues to rise. According to the Ukrainian general staff, the Russian army has suffered more than 1.5 million casualties, including both killed and wounded, since the invasion began in February 2022. In the September legislative elections, 46 war veterans were elected to the Duma, slightly more than 10% of the chamber, according to Ella Pamfilova, president of the Central Election Commission. In 2024, President Vladimir Putin launched a program called The Time of Heroes, aimed at preparing veterans for high-ranking administrative positions. Three individuals who participated in this program are currently in charge of a region.