MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree introducing financial benefits for people who left Ukrainian territory to come to Russia, including pensioners, pregnant women and disabled people.

Decree, published on a government portal, establishes monthly pension payments of 10,000 roubles ($170) for people who have been forced to leave territory of Ukraine since February 18. Disabled people will also be eligible for same monthly support, while pregnant women are entitled to a one-off benefit. Decree says payments will be made to citizens of Ukraine and self-styled Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples’ Republics-two breakaway Russian-backed entities in eastern Ukraine that Moscow recognised as independent in February in a move condemned by Ukraine and West as illegal.

Moscow has been giving Ukrainians Russian passports in what Ukraine and United States say is an illegal effort by Moscow to annex territory it has occupied as part of what they regard as an imperialist Russian land-grab. Moscow says it is prosecuting “a special military operation” to protect itself and defend Russian-speakers who it says were persecuted by Ukrainian authorities, something Kyiv denies.–Agencies

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 30 2022

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