Putin signs decree exempting Russian soldiers from repaying overdue debts

The law also stipulates that the total debt eligible for cancellation for servicemembers and their spouses cannot exceed 10 million rubles (almost $140k).

Write-offs will apply only to loans taken out before the military contract was signed with the Russian Defense Ministry. These debts must also already be subject to a court order for debt recovery or enforcement proceedings.

Putin first signed a decree exempting soldiers and their families from repaying overdue debt in November 2024. At the time, the law applied to loans issued before Dec. 1, 2024.

The Moscow Times also noted that if a soldier dies in combat, suffers severe injuries, or is assigned a Category I disability, all loan obligations of their family members are canceled regardless of when the individual was drafted or signed a contract.