Russia’s Absurd “Gifts” to Families of Its Dead Soldiers

The world celebrates International Women's Day on March 8 each year. In 2025, the mothers of killed Russian soldiers–who took part in the full-scale invasion of Ukraine–were rewarded with meat grinders by Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s ruling party, United Russia.

The meat grinders were handed out with flowers as part of a campaign called “Flowers for the Mothers of Heroes”, according to reports. 

Unsurprisingly, the gifts were reportedly branded "grotesque" and "outrageous", as “meat grinder” is a term used to describe Moscow’s troops thrown onto the frontline and killed in extremely high volumes. 

Social media users criticized the gifts before comments were disabled on a post by United Russia’s Murmansk regional branch. Shortly after, the branch published a video of one of the mothers thanking the party for the meat grinder, insisting she “actually needed one.”

Russian activist Violetta Grudina dismissed the idea that grieving mothers had requested “a meat grinder in return for their dead son,” adding that "United Russia is worse than shit."

This was just one of many grotesquely tone-deaf “rewards” handed to the families of Russian soldiers—cheap compensation for those sent to die in Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine. 

Kitchen appliances for your dead

A Russian family was reportedly given a multi-cooker in 2023 with a bunch of flowers wrapped in paper that said “life” on it. 

Widows of killed Russian soldiers were rewarded with fridges in exchange for the death of their husbands and children’s fathers. One of the wives has three children, and the other has five. The news report said that “the families of the fallen feel the bitterness and irreparable loss. Such visits make them smile more often”. 

Lose your life in Russia’s war—buy a Lada car!

In July 2022, the state-owned television channel Russia-1 ran a story about Alexey Malov, a Russian tank commander who died on the third day of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The family was awarded a one-time benefit payment for his death, also known as “coffin money” and his family bought a new car with the payment—a Russian Lada, a budget car. 

In the report, Malov’s father said that Alexei dreamed of a white car like that and the family would drive it for the first time to the cemetery.

Towels for grieving mothers

On Mother's Day November 2022, Russian leaders of the Kursk region, Russia, rewarded mothers of killed Russian soldiers with a set of 3 towels. Sergey Korostelev, one of the district leaders of the Kursk region posted the photos on the Russian social media site VKontakte, but later deleted the post. 

Mourning with meat and potatoes

Families of some Russian soldiers mobilized to fight Russia’s war in Ukraine were offered a care package by the Siberian city of Yakutsk Mayor, Evgeny Grigoriev–a free bag of vegetables.

In another case, the commander of a killed Russian soldier gave the soldier's father a bag of potatoes. 

Oleg Rybkin, 45, was mobilized to fight in Russia’s war in Ukraine in September 2022 where he was seriously wounded in the abdomen, liver, and kidney. His right knee joint was destroyed, according to reports. The Russian government was due to pay for his injuries, rehab, and his pension. Instead, they rewarded him with two buckets of carrots and a bag of onions. It was reported that he was sent back to the frontlines on crutches.

"What vegetables, what gifts, do I need to replace my husband's joint and get him discharged!" Rybkin’s wife said. 

In Vladivostok, the administration reportedly rewarded widows with packs of sausages. They later deleted the post, but it has been saved via archive. Along with sausages, the widows were also given pates, canned goods, and semi-finished products, according to reports. 

A bicycle for a father’s life

The family and two children of a Russian soldier killed on the frontline were given a bicycle for his father's life. The Russian media report said that “she was surprised at first, but then decided that it would be useful for the kids”.