Salaries, benefits and payments to the military

From October 1, 2023, salaries of military personnel and law enforcement officers increased by 10.5%. This was the largest increase in salaries for this category of public sector employees over the past few years: since 2018, the increase has been 3.7–4% per year.

Who received extra money

Plans to increase the salaries of military and security officials were announced in September 2021 by Russian President Vladimir Putin: “In the next two years, the total amount of them (military.— “Kommersant”) salary will grow at a rate of 9% per year, thereby we will reduce the gap in the income of law enforcement officers and military personnel of the Ministry of Defense, which has formed in recent years.”

On June 28, 2023, a decree appeared on the website of the Russian government, according to which the salary for military positions of contract soldiers and conscripts will be increased by 10.5%. It is noted that the monthly salary of participants in a special military operation after indexation will be at least 210 thousand rubles.

In addition, the salaries of employees of the Russian Guard, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Penitentiary Service, employees of the fire service, customs officers and commanding staff of courier communications were subject to indexation. Before this, the last time the salaries of security forces were increased was October 1, 2022. Then the government decided to increase military salaries by 4%.

Pension indexation

From October 1, 2023, military pensions were also indexed. The corresponding law was adopted by the State Duma in 2022. According to the explanatory note to the document, this fall the average pension through the Ministry of Defense will increase to almost 42 thousand rubles. In addition, from November 1, military pensioners who were called up to the ranks of the RF Armed Forces for mobilization or who entered into a contract will receive compensation for their military pension. Its size will be 100%. It is clarified that for military personnel who have entered into a contract, compensation will be made from February 24, 2022, and for those called up to serve in the armed forces as part of mobilization – from September 21, 2022.

Benefits are provided to military personnel and members of their families

In 2023, monthly additional payments to the salary are expected for military personnel and their families:

– for length of service – from 10% to 40% of the salary (10% for service of 2 years, 40% for service of 25 years);

— for the qualification category — from 5% to 30%;

— for work with state secrets — up to 25%;

– for special conditions, for example when serving on ships, in the landing force, for command – up to 100%;

– for performing tasks associated with a risk to life and health in peacetime – up to 100%;

– for special achievements in service – up to 100%;

– for effective and conscientious performance of duties – up to 25%;

– for work in the Far North, in remote areas, desert or waterless areas – from 15% to 100%.

SVO participants have the status of combat veterans and can claim appropriate benefits. Also, border guards and civilian personnel participating in the SVO, as well as those who signed up as volunteers, will be considered veterans.

In turn, wounded volunteers, along with other military personnel, will be able to apply for the status of a combat disabled person. Employees in the NWO zone are entitled to financial support in the event of injury. According to the law “On compulsory state insurance of life and health of military personnel,” mobilized persons receive 74.2 thousand rubles for minor injuries, and 296.8 thousand rubles for severe injuries.

Combat veterans and members of their families will receive compensation of 50% of the payment for housing and communal services. The benefit includes services for managing a residential building, contributions for major repairs and repairs of common property in an apartment building. Veterans will also be exempt from tax on part of their property: one apartment, one house or one garage, and from land tax on a plot of six acres. But for larger plots the tax will have to be paid.

Will there be wage indexation in 2024?

The Government of the Russian Federation has decided to skip the indexation of wages in 2024 for a number of categories of public sector employees, which include military personnel. This follows from the explanatory note to bill No. 448563-8.

Therefore, after the October 2023 salary increase, the next salary increase will occur only in 2025. The government believes that such a measure will optimize budget expenditures.