HUGE: Russia to Start Paying Out Pensions of Donbass Retirees

Of the 3.65 million people in rebel Donbass, 720,000 have so far applied and received Russian citizenship and passport. The issuing of passports is somewhat hampered by the fact Donbass residents must travel across the border to Russia to apply.

Nonetheless, the number of applications is now guaranteed to skyrocket as Russia will now pay out the pensions of Donbass residents who take up the citizenship.

Until now Russian citizens from Donbass had to take up permanent residency in Russia for their pension to be covered by Russia, but that will now change:

Russian citizens living in the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR will be able to apply for social payments and benefits through public services without specifying a residence permit.

To work out this issue, the government was instructed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to January 29 on the Kremlin’s website. It is necessary to report on the implementation by May 1.

Ukraine claims these people (who anyway earned their pensions paying into the Ukrainian pension fund) as its own citizens under a joint terrorist-Russian occupation and is waging a low-scale war to return them to its control (aka to “liberate” them). But as part of its blockade and strangulations tactics against these very same people Kiev makes it extremely difficult for them to collect what they are owed:

Ukraine’s government stopped paying pensions and other social payments to people living in the self-proclaimed and Russian-controlled ‘Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics’ back in November 2014. In order to receive their pensions, people have to register as internally displaced persons and appear in person at least once in two months.

Of the 1 million, 59 thousand pensioners now entitled to pensions, only 650 thousand are receiving them. It is likely that a considerable percentage of the over 450 thousand men and women who are not getting them do not feel strong enough to make the journey.

The problem is also that elderly people are forced to stand for many hours in queues on both sides of the checkpoints. For a significant number, the strain is too much, and there are regular reports of elderly people dying at the checkpoints.

It is only correct and humane that Russia should take care of these people betrayed and humiliated by Kiev. It should have happened a long time ago, not after seven and a half years of treating them as unwanted stepchildren.

One wonders if the motive was really humanitarian though. Since the number of Donbass residents with voting rights in Russian elections had grown to 720,000 Moscow also needed to preempt the danger they would be voting for parties that are not United Russia.

In any case, it’s a positive (if belated) move with huge implications. Paying out pensions is much bigger news than handing out passports, and will be much more appreciated in Donbass. It will now be easier for Donbass retirees to actually collect plus if the Crimean formula is applied the Russian pensions will be higher — €120 from Russia compared to €70 from Ukraine. Yes, these are pitifully small figures, and yes the Russian government had been penny-pinching over a measly 120 million euros a month which is low-class and undignified. (The sadists and scum in Kiev aren’t even worth expending words on.)

Does this have an implication for the current war scare? Difficult to say. It could be an advertisement for the benefit of East Ukrainians telling them that Russian power also brings higher Russian pensions.

But it could just as easily mean that the takeover of East Ukraine would now be so expensive for penny-pinching Moscow that it is no longer in the realm of possibility, and that war is now thus less likely.

Comments (15)
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  • TZVI

    Somehow I doubt they would pay a pension to everyone in the Ukraine…as you state this is for Russian Passport Holders. This may be a prelude to either recognizing DPR and LPR, and later annexation, or just simple encouragement to get the other 2.9 Million residents to apply for Russian citizenship.

    Based on recent developments, it appears Russia will wait for the Ukrainian side to breach the ceasfire in a significant way before any military action would be taken.

    • Abraham Lincoln

      Russia can take over ukraine with Chinese Belt and Road investment to help out for expenses no problem. This is why Putin is meeting with China.

      • TZVI

        Quite possible…notice I did not mention monies required…not because Russia is rich, but there are many options out there to make Ukraine pay for itself.

        As one of the large bread baskets of the world, Ukraine would be a better place than most of Russia to farm in a grand Solar Minimum ( e.g. lower world temperatures). The food value alone would make Ukraine ( or parts thereof) invaluable should Russia ( and other northern countries) find itself in a food shortage.

        • Abraham Lincoln

          Yes China will buy all the non GMO food Ukraine can produce

    • fred jones

      There would be no annexation required as these people have wanted to return home for nearly 8 years after the 2014 zio coup

    • Michael Arnold

      Like the Crimea, The Donbass need not be annex but will with open arms embrace mother Russia. Putin for Tzar!

  • Ultrafart the Brave

    Is this a big deal for Russia?

    To put some context onto the problem, Russia’s present population is around 145 million, while Ukraine’s is about 43 million (30%).

    And correct me if I’m wrong, but since Cookies Nuland sponsored the Ukronazi coup, Ukraine has collapsed into an economic basket case.

    So, in terms of the potential economic burden – yes, if taking over Ukraine in total is a thing, then it is a big deal.

  • GMC

    I’ve watched this pretty close since the pensioners in Crimea , including all the retired Ukie military was cut off from and any funds for the last 6 or 7 years. I came up with the number of 3 billion dollars that the Ukies owe their pensioners from just Crimea alone. Luckily for these people Russia picked up the ball and continued their monthly checks.

    We also have to look at the rules and conditions that the IMF put on the Kiev loans. They call to cut pensions and raise all utilities on the populace. A pretty harsh sentence, since the populace never sees any of the loan money that goes into the Governments pockets. And probably the Biden Crime Family. But Russia is the Bad Guys – Right,

  • SteveK9

    If Russia were not so fanatical about a balanced budget (a very bad idea) then they could print up some rubles for these retirees. They would be buying goods from Russia, which would boost the economy a bit.

    • al madison

      that will happen anyway. that is the point of getting the $. A. they will now throw loyalty to the russian side and B. they are now a market for Russian capital.

    • Michael Arnold

      Their balanced budgeting has worked. They are solvent is the ussa?

  • Dave

    Gee, maybe the demonic khazars running the US shouldn’t have overthrown Kiev from its elected leader back in 2014.

  • Michael Arnold

    You realize that Russia does not have to pay this moneys but Good PR and it helps the Russians there! God bless the People of Russia!

  • Nick T

    Ukraine should be a rich, powerful country if it were cleared of c I a and Biden people. If Ukraine merges with Russia, then they will be very powerful and most influential country in the world. Ukie generals just contact Putin and begin peaceful merger process 👍