November 06, 2024

Another Consequence of the War?


Another Consequence of the War?
A blind man in Ekaterinburg. IvanA, Wikimedia Commons

According to data from Russia’s Pension Fund, in 2023, for the first time in over a decade, the number of people with disabilities in Russia rose.

As of December 31, 2023, 11 million Russians had disability status, marking an increase of 108,000 from the beginning of the year. The independent publication Verstka attributed this rise to growth in childhood disabilities and possible corruption in medical examinations, especially in the North Caucasus regions. Contributing factors may also include registrations from occupied territories in the ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine and military injuries.

Since 2011, the number of people with disabilities in Russia had steadily declined, a trend authorities linked to the aging of an older generation of disabled citizens. The upward trend seen in 2023 marks a significant shift. Notably, Rosstat (Federal State Statistics Service) data does not account for territories occupied in Ukraine since 2022.

The North Caucasus Federal District saw the largest regional increase, accounting for over 30 percent of the rise. Dagestan and Chechnya reported nearly double the growth elsewhere, with 14,800 and 12,400 new cases, respectively. Following these regions were Novosibirsk Oblast and Moscow Oblast, with increases of 7,600. Demographers cite widespread false disability claims in the North Caucasus, where approximately 15.9 percent of Chechnya’s population reportedly holds disabled status, more than twice the national average.

Childhood disabilities also contributed to the rise, accounting for one-third of the increase. In 2023, 89,000 children were diagnosed with disabilities, the highest number since at least 2008.

Migrants from occupied regions may have contributed significantly to the rise in both child and adult disabilities, according to a demographer interviewed by Verstka. In 2023, 93,700 residents of occupied regions registered as residents in Russia, particularly in Moscow Oblast, Rostov Oblast, and Krasnodar Krai. These regions saw some of the highest increases in childhood disabilities.

The data also showed a marked increase in disabilities that may be linked to military injuries. The category for “simultaneous hearing and vision impairment” saw a 75 percent rise, likely due to injuries such as concussions. Disabilities requiring wheelchair use increased as well, with 79,000 people registering — 23,000 more than in 2021. Determining the proportion of disabilities attributed specifically to military injuries, however, remains challenging.

You Might Also Like

Population Problems
  • October 23, 2024

Population Problems

According to a UN report, Russian population numbers may have already passed their peak. 
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

Jews in Service to the Tsar
October 09, 2011

Jews in Service to the Tsar

Benjamin Disraeli advised, “Read no history: nothing but biography, for that is life without theory.” With Jews in Service to the Tsar, Lev Berdnikov offers us 28 biographies spanning five centuries of Russian Jewish history, and each portrait opens a new window onto the history of Eastern Europe’s Jews, illuminating dark corners and challenging widely-held conceptions about the role of Jews in Russian history.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955