The Kremlin has repeatedly referred to veterans of the war in Ukraine as ‘the new elite of the country.’

Russia’s ruling party, United Russia, estimates that veterans of the war in Ukraine will hold 10% of deputy positions in the upcoming local and regional elections.

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According to Alexander Sidyakin, head of United Russia’s executive committee, the party aims to establish a quota, though he acknowledged that it is an informal minimum not codified in any party documents.

“But we have decided this ourselves and are informally asking the regions to do the same. We all understand that this is our duty to these people,” he said.

A total of 21,400 people have applied to participate in United Russia’s primary elections, nearly 1,000 of whom served in the Russian military in Ukraine. Most of the applicants are seeking local-level positions. The Communist Party also announced that it will field candidates with combat experience on the Ukrainian front.

The Kremlin has repeatedly referred to veterans of the war in Ukraine as “the new elite of the country.” Some politicians and officials have attained veteran status by briefly joining the frontlines through special battalions that do not take an active part in combat.

In April, training courses were held for veterans interested in pursuing civil service positions in Russia. The program, called “Time of Heroes,” attracted nearly 50,000 registrants.

United Russia, whose president is former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, currently holds 2,682 of the 3,980 seats in regional parliaments and 321 of the 450 seats in the Lower House. Although President Vladimir Putin is not officially a member of the party, he has been its only presidential candidate since its founding, aside from Medvedev in 2008.

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