Russia Policy Monitor No. 2676

"BLACK WIDOWS" GAME THE UKRAINE WAR
Over the past three-plus years, the war on Ukraine has changed Russian society in striking ways. One of the most egregious has been the rise of a predatory class of civilians who are seeking to take advantage of the war’s heavy casualty rate for personal enrichment. According to bloggers and the Russian press, so-called "black widows" have begun orchestrating sham marriages to Russian soldiers, with the objective of collecting lucrative benefits in the event of their death or injury. The process has the potential to generate a windfall. "If a Russian soldier dies in combat, governmental compensation for the widow and family can be up to $60,000 plus a survivor's pension," RFE/RL details. "If the soldier is seriously wounded, there is a disability payment of up to $36,000."

The practice highlights the perverse incentives that have attached themselves to Russia's war of choice. "With a shortage of soldiers on the front line, Russian authorities keep raising payments and benefits for those willing to sign a military contract to go and fight in Ukraine," notes RFE/RL. "Such incentives, however, may also be encouraging fraudulent schemes and exploitation, as some individuals seek to profit from the system -- and from the deaths of others." (RFE/RL, April 21, 2025)

MOSCOW'S FOREIGN LEGION
In prosecuting its war on Ukraine, the Kremlin has relied heavily on reinforcements from abroad. North Korea, for instance, is estimated to have provided thousands of soldiers to date to augment Russia's frontline troops. But foreign fighters are coming from elsewhere as well – and mercenaries make up a significant portion. According to investigative outlet iStories, some 1,500 soldiers of fortune from more than 48 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa have joined the Russian assault on Ukraine over the past three years. The numbers are culled from a recent data leak of the Unified Medical Information and Analytical System, a central database of medical records that has catalogued "contract soldiers" since the start of the war. The majority of the foreign mercenaries, iStories documents, come from South and East Asia, while the nations of the former USSR and Africa represent the second and third largest sources, respectively. (iStories, April 23, 2025)

EUROPE PLANS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR PUTIN
Ever since the start of his "special military operation" against Ukraine, European leaders have sought to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable. Those efforts are progressing apace. Meduza reports that the Council of Europe "has finished drafting the concept for a special tribunal to prosecute Vladimir Putin and other top Russian officials over the war in Ukraine." Specifically, draft documents for what is being colloquially called a "tribunal for Putin" have been completed and are now awaiting the approval (and presumably a mustering of political will) of relevant politicians. If authorized, the tribunal will carry out investigations of Putin as well as other top officials, including Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin. In all, some 20 Russian policymakers will be investigated by Europe for "planning, preparing, initiating, and executing the crime of aggression against Ukraine." (Meduza, April 23, 2025)

MOSCOW VERSUS THE OCCULT AND "NEW AGE"
Russia's lower house of parliament is taking aim at a surprising target: witches, astrologers and other "mystic practices." The Duma is now reportedly considering legislation that would ban adds for some 37 "new age" professions, among them magicians and tarot readers. The ban, lawmakers argue, is needed to protect the Russian public from falling for services that "lack a scientific basis" and could be "misleading" or "fraud." Conspicuously, nutritionists make the list of banned services. Psychics, however, did not. (Meduza, April 23, 2025)

A HELPING HAND FOR PYONGYANG?
In recent months, the regime of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has become a major contributor to Russia's war on Ukraine, providing thousands of soldiers to augment the fighting force of Russia's military. Now, it seems, Moscow may be returning the favor – by helping the DPRK to expand its naval warfare capabilities. According to South Korean military officials, Pyongyang's newly-unveiled warship, the destroyer Choe Hyon, is believed to have been build with help from Russia. "Looking at the weapons and equipment that were revealed, we believe that there is a possibility that they received technology, funds or assistance from Russia," Lee Sung-jun, a spokesperson for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, has told reporters. "We are conducting a more detailed analysis." North Korea has announced that the Choe Hyon will enter operation in early 2026. (Agence France-Presse, May 1, 2025)