Russian President Vladimir Putin has appointed the mother of a soldier killed in Ukraine as governor of a region in Russia's Far East, a day after the promotion to similar office of a man who took part in the ongoing conflict there. country.
These appointments are the symbol of the gradual rise within the Russian system of a new elite resulting from the commitment to the offensive in Ukraine, while Russian soldiers, their children and their families already benefit from numerous advantages.
Vladimir Putin received in the Kremlin on Tuesday Maria Kostiouk, a senior regional official and mother of a soldier who died on the front in Ukraine, and appointed her head of Birobidzhan, the Jewish autonomous oblast of Russia, on the Chinese border .
Already vice-president of Birobidjan
“I want to thank you for raising a true Russian warrior, because Andrei died while fulfilling his military duty,” the Russian president said of this woman’s son, according to images broadcast by the presidency. A decree confirming the appointment of Maria Kostiouk was published on the Kremlin website.
“This is both unexpected and a great responsibility. I will do everything possible (…) to justify your trust, to be worthy of the memory of my son, who faithfully served the homeland,” she reacted according to the Kremlin images.
According to Russian media, Maria Kostiouk, aged 47, is originally from Birobidzhan and has held various positions within the administration of this region, including that of vice-president of her government. She was also the head of patriotic and youth organizations linked to the ruling party.
A first Russian governor to fight in Ukraine
On Monday, Vladimir Putin appointed a man who fought in Ukraine, Yevgeny Pervychov, as acting governor of the Tambov region, in central Russia. This former mayor and deputy, decorated for the services he then rendered to the army, thus became the first Russian governor to have fought on the front in Ukraine.
Russian soldiers serving in Ukraine benefit from numerous financial advantages, including very high pay, but also facilities, for example to send their children to the best universities in Russia.
The French Foreign Ministry estimated in May that 150,000 Russian soldiers had been killed in the war in Ukraine.
