Russian soldier's wives live lavishly despite ongoing conflict
"Russian wives of soldiers fighting in Ukraine flaunt their luxurious lifestyles on social media, despite the ongoing conflict. The increase in military salaries has contributed to the emergence of a new elite in Russia," writes "The Moscow Times."
At the end of the year, 22-year-old Vika bragged on Instagram about a new iPhone 16 she received from her husband fighting in Ukraine. "As my husband said: 'Only the best for my wife,'" Vika recounted about the gift, which costs hundreds of dollars more in Russia than in the U.S.
Russia, facing a shortage of volunteers willing to participate in the war against Ukraine, is increasing financial incentives for signing contracts with the army. This has provided many men and their families with new opportunities to elevate their social status. President Vladimir Putin has referred to this group as the "new elite" of Russia.
The new elite of Russia
With the improvement of the financial situation of the military, their wives and partners willingly showcase their new lives on social media, often supporting the war, "traditional values," and the Kremlin. Despite the ban on Instagram in Russia, Vika and many others continue to use this platform.
On Instagram, Vika shows how she decorates her husband's service apartment. She chooses decorations on shopping platforms, recording it on video. Each presentation begins with the words: "As long as I have money, you have reviews."
In 2025, Russian authorities continue to raise salaries for contract soldiers fighting in Ukraine. Since January, payments for contracts with the Ministry of Defence in the Samara region have increased to 4 million rubles (approximately CAD 54,000), which is the highest amount in the country.
In addition to one-time payments, which vary depending on the region, soldiers receive a monthly salary of no less than 210,000 rubles (about CAD 2,800). In the event of a soldier's death, the family is entitled to "funeral benefits," which can reach up to 5 million rubles (around CAD 68,000.)
Privileges for military personnel
Besides million-ruble payments, the government offers soldiers preferential mortgage loans, and their children can attend universities for free, including prestigious ones. In 2024, almost 15,000 participants of the war in Ukraine and their children benefited from this, almost doubling compared to 2023.
Increasingly, "SWO (special military operation) veterans" are being appointed to political positions, although not yet on a large scale.
"Dad is fighting, and we sleep peacefully"
Ekaterina from Khanty-Mansiysk, a small town in Siberia, compares herself to the heroine of a Soviet war song, waiting for her husband to return from war. She records videos about "living in a waiting mode" with her daughter while her beloved fights in Ukraine. She tries on her husband's uniform for her followers and records joint videos with him—the soldier filmed his part on the front.
Before New Year, which Ekaterina spent alone with her daughter, she told the child: "Dad is fighting, and we sleep peacefully." Blogger Lesya, like Ekaterina, compares herself to the heroine of a Soviet song. Her TikTok account has nearly 100,000 followers. In her blog, she wishes Ukrainians a president "like Putin," mocks gender changes in children, and shows "souvenirs" her husband brings back from the war: a Ukrainian passport and a military patch.
Lesya's husband, Andrei, also runs his blog. He records ironic videos about PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) after the war, interviews other soldiers, and mocks the liberal views of the youth. "I sit at the computer all day, and I could be doing it for war crimes," Andrei jokes.
Andrei's most popular video on TikTok garnered nearly 1.5 million views. In it, he showcases his collection of Wagner Group medals, including "Death's Cross" for difficult tasks, the medal "For Courage," and "For the capture of Bakhmut and Vuhledar." "The country stands on people like this, brother," comment the viewers.
For people like Andrei, the Russian Union of Journalists plans to create courses on storytelling and media content promotion. They have asked the authorities for 1.2 million rubles.
Sometimes simply meeting military personnel becomes an important part of a blog. Anastasia from Krasnodar Krai met her future husband through a "meet the military" group on the VKontakte network. When she wrote to the man she liked, he was already at war.
After ten days of correspondence, the man professed his love for Anastasia. Soon, the love-struck girl travelled to the occupied Luhansk to meet him for the first time.
Each stage of her relationship with the military man was detailed in her Instagram stories. Now she showcases on her blog the car and bouquets of flowers her husband gave her and shares secrets of a successful marriage with a military man. Through Instagram, she sells online courses on femininity for 990 rubles (approximately CAD 13).
"I once dreamed of it, and now it's my reality," writes the girl under a photo with a bouquet of roses. Simultaneously, Anastasia runs a Telegram channel called "A Woman's Wild Nature," where she shares the achievements of girls who have become her students.
