Cancellation of payments to prisoners of war — when is this possible.

The state retains monetary support for military personnel who are considered missing in action and those who are in captivity. However, if a serviceman voluntarily surrenders, deserts, or leaves their military unit, payments cease as soon as the official investigation is completed.

This was stated by Oksana Lekontseva, senior officer of the Social Protection Department of the Ministry of Defense.

More details about payments to prisoners of war

According to Oksana Lekontseva, the first category of combatants will be guaranteed full payments based on their last held position. Money will be paid throughout their entire captivity. That is, such servicemen:

• will receive monetary support throughout their entire period of captivity;
• the payment rate will be calculated based on their last military rank;
• benefits will not be canceled, even if the serviceman is abroad, until it is established that they voluntarily surrendered.

However, if it turns out that the serviceman voluntarily surrendered, unlawfully left the unit, or deserted, payments will cease after the investigation is completed. This will be grounds for canceling financial payments, as the defender has violated their military duty.

'Voluntary surrender to captivity is confirmed by the Act of Service Investigation, but the course of these events does not affect the payment itself. Only the outcome of the investigation is taken into account,' — emphasized Oksana Lekontseva.

The senior officer of the Social Protection Department of the Ministry of Defense also explained who cannot claim payments. This includes:

• military personnel convicted of treason, collaborationism, or aiding the aggressor country;
• citizens of Russia and Belarus or persons permanently residing in these countries.

What else is worth knowing

We remind you that the state provides additional support to the relatives of those servicemen who went missing during the full-scale war with Russia. Thus, the right to benefits is granted to:

• Children under 18 years old.
• The parents of the serviceman.
• The spouse.
• Adult children with disabilities from childhood.

Earlier, we reported whether the size of monetary provision in the Armed Forces will change from August 1, 2025. It should be noted that payments to servicemen are regulated by several legislative acts. Also, learn about the nuances of material assistance to servicemen.