Russian government considers posthumous marriages amid rising military casualties in Ukraine
The global community observes that the 'second largest military in the world' did not meet expectations in Ukraine, contrary to its commanders' projections. Putin appears to have underestimated the tenacity of the Ukrainian people. As stated by the General Staff of Ukraine (reporting from February 6, 2024, Greenwich Time), approximately 390,580 Russian soldiers have been lost. Nonetheless, fatalities and battlefield issues are just part of the crisis.
Within Russia, the administration in Moscow is faced with difficult inquiries from the wives of the soldiers sent to fight. It appears that wives and widows are primarily concerned not only about their husbands, but also their own future.
A proposal was floated in the Kremlin to ensure minimum social security to the dependents of the deceased soldiers. A proposed decree allowing for posthumous marriages is believed to facilitate this.
According to a new law being contemplated by the Russian State Duma, women could potentially marry their partners posthumously, should they perish in warfare - we learn from a NEXTA agency post on the X(Twitter) platform.
The concept of post-mortem marriage is not novel. Such a law was enacted in France as far back as 1803 - aimed at the war veterans' widows, much like the current situation in Russia.
This practice was employed in Nazi Germany as well. Pregnant women were able to marry their deceased partners, providing them with a surname and benefits as single mothers.
The most renowned case of this law is that of Franz Kutschera's Norwegian wife. The Nazi war criminal died in Warsaw on February 1, 1944. His wedding occurred very unusually, during his funeral – on February 4.
Currently, the proposal of post-death marriage is up for consideration in Russia. Details concerning benefits granted to Russian women, whose partners were lost in the Ukraine, are yet to be clarified. Basing on Russia's history of 'generosity', the Kremlin's aim appears to be largely propagandistic in nature, to depict a caring and supportive image towards its widowed citizens.
The specifics regarding any potential pensions are not yet clear. It may be that the 'pension' might barely cover the costs of funeral and repatriating the body of the recently wed deceased back to the country...