Addressing Soldier Welfare: Russia’s New Defence Minister Outlines Priorities
In a recent parliamentary committee meeting, Andrei Belousov, Russia’s newly appointed defence minister, emphasized the importance of improving living conditions for the country’s soldiers. Belousov, an economist and former deputy prime minister, expressed his concerns about the current state of soldier welfare, particularly in areas such as housing, healthcare access, and the efficiency of distributing welfare benefits.
According to state media reports, Belousov criticized the excessive red tape that complicates the process of benefit payments to military personnel. He highlighted the difficulties soldiers face when seeking medical attention, noting the unacceptable situation where servicemen returning from operations are turned away from civilian medical facilities and directed to military hospitals that are often at full capacity.
“I think it’s a mess when participants in the special military operation who come back on vacation are driven from civilian medical institutions to hospitals which are often simply overcrowded. This issue needs to be resolved,” Belousov stated, pinpointing a critical area for reform.
The new defence minister’s comments suggest a commitment to tackling these issues head-on. His focus on
Belousov’s address to the defence and security committee of the Federation Council is part of the confirmation process for the new government lineup following President Vladimir Putin’s inauguration for a fifth term. As Russia’s defence landscape potentially enters a new phase of reform, the military community will be watching closely to see how these proposed improvements in soldier welfare materialize.
