Maria Shocked to Learn Father Married Days Before War Death

Maria told CNN she was shocked to learn her 59-year-old father Yury had married two days before being sent to war; his bride, 22 years younger, whom Maria had never met, became the closest relative entitled to compensation and allegedly sold his house. Authorities and media call such women 'black widows. The army pays 5 million rubles (about 2.9 million lira) to the closest relative of a soldier killed in combat, a benefit meant to support loved ones but increasingly exploited.

Reports of such fraud are surging; last year a hospital nurse married five severely wounded soldiers under her care and was fired after allegedly collecting their benefits. Economic hardship, fuel shortages, and the prolonged war fuel public anger. Lawmaker Leonid Slutsky said military families need protection from 'black widows' and exploiters.

In a Tomsk podcast, a realtor jokingly advised a woman to find a soldier and collect 8 million rubles after his death to buy an apartment; both women apologized but faced penalties, highlighting the widespread awareness of the practice. Slutsky emphasized that military families need protection from such exploitation.