Families of the SMO participants must now receive the same basic set of social guarantees regardless of their region of residence. Olga Soldatkina, Researcher of the International Best Practices Analysis Department at the Gaidar Institute, told the NEWS.ru about the measures included on this list and on the way to obtain them.
The system of benefits for SMO participants and their families has been gradually expanded since 2022, but until recently, the terms of support varied from region to region. The Executive Order by the President of the Russian Federation No. 327 of May 15, 2026, approved a unified basic list of measures that all regions of Russia must now implement.
As Olga Soldatkina explained, this involves 14 support areas. These include medical, social, and psychological assistance, free legal services, cultural and sports benefits, subsidies for gasification of individual homes, and a number of education measures.
Children of SMO participants are entitled to priority enrollment in kindergartens and schools, reimbursement of preschool education costs, reduced fees for extended-day groups, free supplementary education, meals for schoolchildren and full-time students of secondary vocational education, and discounted vouchers for children's vacations.
Furthermore, regions should develop partnership programs with retail chains that offer discounts on goods. Certain benefits may also be granted for other reasons, such as combat veteran status. Thus, families of deceased veterans and disabled combat veterans are entitled to additional compensation for a portion of their utility costs.
"The Executive Order effectively sets a minimum standard that must apply uniformly in all regions. Regions cannot reduce the scope of this support, but they have the right to expand it through their own measures. This is important, as previously, the range of available benefits depended significantly on the family's place of residence. However, the application process remains different: some benefits are provided automatically, while others require confirmation of status and contacting the appropriate agency," Olga Soldatkina noted.
She said that basic measures are valid until at least the end of the year following the completion of the SMO. Support is envisaged termless for those disabled due to military injury, their family members, and families of deceased SMO participants.