Russia expands veteran program to funnel soldiers into state power and corporate networks
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The Kremlin has launched the third intake of the “Time of Heroes” program, lowering barriers for military veterans with high-school diplomas to gain state-backed training and credentials for government and business posts.
The Kremlin announced the third intake of its "Time of Heroes" program, which is designed to speed military veterans into civil-service and corporate jobs and further weave the war machine into everyday state and business life. Unlike earlier rounds that required a university degree, the new intake now accepts applicants who have completed high school and offers three years of training, including an 18-month stint at the Presidential Academy, ending with state-recognized diplomas. Sergei Kiriyenko, the first deputy chief of staff, said more than 5,000 people applied within 24 hours.
A draft law introduced on Oct. 28 would count military service as relevant experience for local-government positions, potentially giving veterans earlier access to higher-ranking municipal jobs, salary bonuses and additional paid leave. In the September State Duma elections, candidates identified as war veterans won over 10 percent of seats, according to election chief Ella Pamfilova, with 41 of those deputies belonging to United Russia and 19 having participated in earlier rounds of the program.
The initiative is being marketed as a career pathway for soldiers, alongside existing financial inducements such as signing bonuses of up to several million rubles and monthly war-zone pay of about 210,000 rubles. Supporters say the program helps absorb veterans into the Russian bureaucracy and strengthens public backing for the war.
"This is all a performance—it's political and administrative work by the Kremlin's political bloc," said Farida Rustamova, a Russian political journalist and founder of the independent outlet Vlast. She added that most participants are likely to become professional officials who can be readily managed.
Admission to the program remains fiercely competitive. The first class received 83 selections from 44,000 applicants, while the second round admitted 85 candidates from 21,644 applicants, many of whom were carried over from the first intake. Applications for the latest intake close on Jan. 25, 2027, though the number of available slots has not been disclosed.