RusiaCOLOR: struggled to employ returning war veterans, says Ukraine's intelligence service
Ukraine's intelligence service says Russia is struggling to provide jobs for military personnel returning from the war against Ukraine. Russian employment figures for 2025 show that only 52% of those seeking assistance found work, while remote employment was available to only six people.
Puntos clave
- Russian employment services and employers announced 449,000 vacancies for veterans in 2025.
- 15,000 veterans sought job-search assistance in 2025.
- 7,800 veterans were employed, representing 52% of those who sought assistance.
- Among veterans with disabilities, 2,100 of 5,000 found work, or 42%.
- Among veterans with criminal convictions, 638 of 1,200 were employed, or 51%.
- Only 775 of the 449,000 announced vacancies offered remote work, and six people actually obtained it.
- Russia issued about 215,300 foreign-worker permits from October 2025 to September 2026, 21% more than a year earlier.
Por qué importa
The reported difficulties suggest broader problems with reintegrating returning service members into Russia's labor market. Most veterans who sought employment assistance remained unemployed, while remote-work opportunities were extremely limited. The increase in permits for foreign workers contrasts with the reported difficulty of employing Russian veterans, while Russia's projected need for millions of workers makes their reintegration economically significant.
Qué ha ocurrido
Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service said Russia is unable to provide returning military participants with employment. According to figures reported for 2025, Russian employment services and employers announced 449,000 vacancies, but only 15,000 veterans sought assistance and 7,800, or 52%, were employed. Among 5,000 veterans with disabilities, 2,100 found work, while 638 of 1,200 veterans with criminal convictions were employed. Only 775 announced vacancies involved remote work, and six veterans actually obtained remote jobs. At the same time, Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs issued about 215,300 permits for foreign citizens to work from October 2025 to September 2026, 21% more than during the comparable period in 2025. Experts estimate that Russia's economy will need about 12 million workers by 2032.
Cómo lo cuentan las fuentes ucranianas
Ukrainian reporting focuses on Ukraine's intelligence assessment that Russia lacks an effective approach to employing returning veterans. The figures are presented as evidence of a wide gap between announced vacancies and actual placements, as well as of the limited availability of remote work.
Contexto
Russian employment services and employers said they were preparing 449,000 vacancies for military participants in 2025, while 15,000 people sought job-search assistance. Ukraine's intelligence service attributed veterans' post-front employment difficulties to Russia's inability to provide suitable jobs. Russia issued substantially more permits for foreign citizens to work during October 2025 to September 2026 than in the comparable 2025 period.