The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation announced on January 30 that it would take over the provision of volunteer units with weapons, military equipment, clothing, food and medical care. This is stated in the draft order of Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. The document is published on the portal of legal information.
The draft order states that the provision of volunteers will be similar to how military formations of the Russian armed forces are provided.
Volunteers will be controlled by the military units and units to which they will be attached. But weapons and equipment after the service, according to the order, they must hand over to the warehouse. Also, according to the document, volunteers can be held liable for the damage they caused to the army.
In my country blocked
present tense
In November 2022, President Vladimir Putin signed a law on the status of volunteer formations assisting the Russian Armed Forces. Members of these military formations already have veteran status, which entitles them to monthly payments, tax breaks, free commuter trains, medical care, and access to spa services, utility bills, and other social security measures. But at the same time, there was, in fact, no selection for volunteer units: everyone who wanted to join them, including people with mental illness and with a criminal past, was enrolled.
Volunteer battalions for those wishing to fight in Ukraine were formed in many regions of Russia. Local authorities and veteran organizations were encouraged to join the detachments, and those who wished to go to war were promised substantial cash payments.
