President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that veterans of the war in Ukraine should form the backbone of Russia's next generation of political leadership, signaling a further tightening of Kremlin power around hard-line nationalism and the war effort.
In a meeting with leaders of Russia's parliamentary factions, Putin said, "We must search for, find, and put forward people who are fearless in serving the Motherland and who have been willing to risk their health and even their lives. Such people should be promoted to leadership positions. They will be our successors." His comments were reported by state news agency TASS.
Putin also acknowledged that combat veterans are already joining party ranks. "I am confident they will make a positive contribution to the work of political parties, both locally and centrally, in the State Duma and in federal agencies," he said.
The remarks come just days after regional elections that saw 1,616 military veterans run as candidates, 830 of whom were nominated by United Russia, the ruling party that dominates the State Duma. All 830 won office, according to election data. The Kremlin has touted these veterans as the country's "new elite" and has encouraged their integration into politics since the start of the invasion in February 2022.
Analysts say the move cements the political role of Russia's military establishment and ensures that the next generation of leaders will carry forward Putin's foreign policy and domestic security agenda. "As more and more of them begin to be demobilized and return home, Russia will see an influx of veterans... bearing the psychological impacts of war," said Mark Galeotti, a Russia expert who has studied the social effects of the conflict.
The war has mobilized over 1.5 million Russians, including convicts offered early release to serve on the front, according to independent estimates. Casualty figures remain state secrets, but independent media outlets such as Mediazona and the BBC estimate at least 130,150 Russian troops have been killed.
