Russia to pay WWII veterans living in parts of Ukraine under Russian control
Russia will issue one-off payments to World War Two veterans living in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of eastern Ukraine, much of which is effectively controlled by pro-Russian militants, as well as other areas that Russia claims to have under its control.
The presidential office says Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Saturday outlining payments of 10,000 rubles, or about 130 dollars.
It says the payments are to mark the 77th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two on May 9.
Russia is apparently promoting the victory day in parts of Ukraine in an effort to present its control of the regions as a fait accompli.
