As the war in Ukraine continues, a disturbing trend has emerged in Russia: some women are marrying soldiers who are about to be deployed, with the expectation that they will die and the women will receive a substantial payout. This practice, which exploits a system designed to support soldiers' families, has drawn criticism from the Kremlin as it struggles to maintain a positive narrative about the war at home.
The Financial Incentive Behind 'Black Widow' Marriages
When a Russian soldier is killed in action, the military offers a death benefit starting at 5,000,000 rubles, roughly equivalent to £45,000. This sum is intended to help the soldier's family cope with the loss. However, scammers, known as 'black widows', are marrying soldiers solely to secure this money when they die. One woman working at a military hospital was fired after marrying five soldiers who subsequently died from their injuries, allowing her to collect the payouts.
The Kremlin has spoken out against the practice, as it tries to keep up appearances that the war is going well. The government has also openly encouraged citizens to marry for 'family values', making the situation more complex.
Experts Weigh In on the Phenomenon
Keir Giles, a Russia expert at Chatham House, explained to Metro: 'The financial incentives are life-changing, and so, of course, is what they call the “coffin money” if somebody doesn’t make it back. Hence the booming industry in “Black Widows,” some of whom are on their third soldier already because they’ve made a habit of it. So it is very, very lucrative. This is something unsurprising for Russia.'
Giles also noted that Russian society may be more accepting of sending people to die for the Motherland than Western democracies, and that the scale of casualties is hidden from the public. 'There seems to be greater acceptance in Russian society of sending people off to die for the Motherland than you might expect in a Western liberal democracy. But people also don’t have a clear idea of the scale of the slaughter because Russia has worked very hard to conceal that information from its population.'
Economic Desperation and the 'Hero' Narrative
Dr Ian Garner, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Totalitarian Studies at the Pilecki Institute, offered additional insights. He suggested that these death payments represent a rare opportunity for financial advancement in Russia. 'People often ask why the huge death toll in the war hasn’t switched people off war entirely in Russia or hasn’t brought out huge numbers of protesters,' he said. 'The answer is the state provides them through war the means to become not just richer, more powerful and successful, but also to become a better patriot, a hero at the same time. People see these death payments as the chance to make some money. This is the only opportunity that people may have to transform their lives.'
Dr Garner further explained that the Kremlin promotes the war as a chance to become a hero, but that heroism in Russia encompasses more than just patriotism. 'The Kremlin is quite explicit in advertising its war that the war is a chance to become a hero. But becoming a hero in Russia doesn’t just mean being patriotic, being imperialistic, being a kind of Orthodox Christian crusader. Being a hero can mean simply transforming the self, becoming more powerful and wealthier.'
Implications for Russian Society
The rise of 'black widows' highlights the economic desperation and moral complexities that have emerged amid the ongoing conflict. While the government encourages marriage for family values, the practice of marrying soldiers for profit undermines these ideals and raises questions about the social fabric in Russia during wartime. As the war drags on, the financial incentives for such schemes are likely to persist, posing challenges for authorities trying to regulate the system.
