While Russian soldiers are fighting on the frontlines of the Ukraine war, a disturbing trend is drawing attention inside Russia. Authorities, lawmakers and state media have warned of an alleged “Black Widow” scam in which women are accused of marrying soldiers shortly before deployment—or even on their deathbeds—to claim lucrative military compensation if they are killed.
The alleged scheme has surfaced in multiple reported cases over the past year, raising concerns about exploitation of vulnerable soldiers and the growing financial incentives created by Russia’s wartime death benefits.
One of the most widely discussed cases involved Maria, who said she was stunned when the Russian military informed her that her 59-year-old father, Yury, had died fighting in Ukraine. According to her account, she did not even know he had enlisted in the army.
What shocked her even more was learning that her father had married a woman 22 years younger just two days before leaving for the front.
Because the woman had become Yury’s legal next of kin, she became eligible to receive the military compensation instead of other family members.
“I’ve never even spoken to this woman. I don’t know what to say to her because I immediately suspected it was a scam,” Maria was quoted as saying by CNN.
In another case that attracted widespread attention in Russia last year, a military hospital nurse was dismissed after she was accused of marrying five wounded soldiers under her care before they died, allegedly to collect their death benefits. The allegations drew national attention, although the case remains one of the most controversial examples linked to the so-called “Black Widow” phenomenon.
How Much Compensation Do Families Receive?
Under Russia’s military compensation policy, the family or legal next of kin of a soldier killed in combat receives a lump-sum payment starting at around 5 million rubles (approximately $64,000), along with additional regional benefits in some cases, CNN reported.
According to Russian officials, scammers are allegedly exploiting these payments by entering into sham marriages with soldiers shortly before deployment. If the soldier dies in combat, the spouse, as the legal beneficiary, can receive the compensation, often leaving parents or children with little or no claim.
Russian Officials Raise Alarm
The issue has become significant enough for senior Russian lawmakers to publicly acknowledge it.
Leonid Slutsky, a senior member of Russia’s parliament, said such crimes were reaching “serious proportions” and called for greater protection for soldiers’ families.
“The families of Special Military Operation participants need protection from brazen criminals, from so-called ‘black widows,’ from financial and telephone scammers and predators who target those who have received monetary payouts,” Slutsky said.
Why Did Such Cases Increase?
After launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kremlin encouraged newly recruited soldiers to marry before deployment. Authorities simplified marriage procedures by waiving the usual waiting period, while state television promoted mass wedding ceremonies organised by local governments.
The initiative aligned with President Vladimir Putin’s emphasis on traditional family values and was also seen as a way to provide emotional support to soldiers heading to war.
However, critics argue that the policy may have unintentionally created opportunities for fraudulent marriages aimed at accessing military compensation if a soldier is killed.
While Russian authorities continue to investigate such cases, the so-called “Black Widow” scam has become another controversial issue surrounding the human and financial costs of the Ukraine war.