As of December 2024, over 13 former employees of private military companies (PMCs) in Russia have received the status of combat veterans, Deputy Defense Minister Anna Tsivileva reported.

In April 2024, it became known that many Wagnerites were facing refusals to issue a veteran of military operations (VVO) certificate. The main reason is the lack of official contracts with the Ministry of Defense, which creates legal conflicts when recognizing their participation in military operations. As a result, the registration of relevant certificates often occurs manually, with the active support of the Defenders of the Fatherland Foundation, which operates above bureaucratic barriers.

In December 2024, President Vladimir Putin stressed the need to ensure equal conditions for all defenders of Russia in matters of receiving payments and the status of a combat veteran. He noted that all who defend the interests of the country should be placed on equal terms.

However, despite these statements, legislative gaps continue to create obstacles. Current legislation does not provide for clear regulation of the activities of PMCs, which complicates the process of assigning the status of VBD to their former employees. As a result, many of them are forced to appeal to various authorities, including the presidential reception office, to achieve recognition of their status.

In response to the current situation, in August 2024, a bill was submitted to the government proposing amendments to the Law on Veterans. These changes are aimed at granting the status of combat veteran to conscripts, contract soldiers, and Rosgvardia employees involved in repelling sabotage group incursions into border regions. However, as of December 2024, the government has not provided an official response to this bill, which delays its consideration in the State Duma.

The status of a combat veteran provides the right to a number of social benefits and payments, including monetary allowance, compensation, tax and utility benefits, as well as educational privileges.