Russia’s military spending continues to rise, but several regions are cutting compensation for families of soldiers killed in Ukraine. Ulyanovsk reduced its payment 20-fold this year, while Saratov cut its benefit tenfold. https://meduza.io/en/feature/2026/10/01/russian-war-spending-keeps-rising-while-some-regions-slash-death-benefits-for-soldiers-families-by-up-to-95