"Attitude at the Highest Level." How former 'SMO' participants relax in Belarusian sanatoriums
Belarus officially does not participate in Russia's war against Ukraine, but the country's authorities systematically serve the Kremlin, creating a quasi-military infrastructure. The BRC writes how, over the past three years, 'SMO' veterans have been restoring their health in Belarusian sanatoriums.
Electrophoresis for a Sniper
Massage chairs, a respiratory salt room, electrophoresis, and many other procedures were offered by the Lepel Military Sanatorium of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus to former 'SMO' participant Anton Kubasov. The Russian himself told this to a BRC journalist who called him posing as an employee of a Belarusian state publication. Journalists tracked down the man while searching for confirmation that Belarusian health resorts were admitting Russian soldiers.
Kubasov is now 41 years old. He complains about his well-being, saying he's falling apart, bothered by joint deterioration. He was recuperating in Belarus last year from November 20 to December 10 – as part of a group of veterans.
"I really liked it [at the Lepel Sanatorium]. Firstly, the attitude towards us was at the highest level. The food was awesome. All the events that took place were great, I liked them. It can't be compared to Russian [sanatoriums]," Kubasov shared.
In the conversation, he admitted that he served as a sniper-scout in the 488th regiment (this is a motorized rifle regiment, which is part of the 144th Guards Motorized Rifle Division in the Smolensk region). Kubasov added that he participated in the battles for Kreminna in the Luhansk region – since mid-April 2022, the city has been under Russian occupation.
The man said of himself: "One of those who survived there."
There is no confirmed information on how many civilians did not survive during the Russian troops' assault on the city. On the second day of fighting for Kreminna, the then head of the regional administration, Serhiy Haidai, named the figure of 200 people, but stressed that it could be higher, as it was impossible to evacuate the population during the capture. Those who tried to leave the city on their own came under shelling.
Without a Leg, but with Money
A trip to a Belarusian sanatorium is the only reward for participating in the war against Ukraine, Kubasov complained. He received neither medals nor payments. Unlike another guest of the Lepel Sanatorium – Andrey Palzakhnouski, a native of Pskov. He returned from the war against Ukraine without a leg, but, as the publication "Sever.Realii" wrote, with the Order of Courage and three million Russian rubles as compensation for his injury ($32 thousand). He is now 24 years old.
Palzakhnouski was relaxing at the Lepel Sanatorium at the same time as Kubasov. Photographs of him in the interiors of the Belarusian institution were published by the Russian fund "Defenders of the Fatherland". Palzakhnouski publicly thanked the organizers of the treatment – this provided further confirmation that soldiers who fought against Ukraine are undergoing rehabilitation in Belarus.
Journalists tried to speak with the Russian, but could not reach him by phone. He voluntarily went to fight against Ukraine in October 2022, wishing to earn money. He does not regret his decision. Moreover, if it weren't for his mother's protest, he would have returned to the war – at least that's what he told journalists from "Sever.Realii" in 2023.
Three Years – Undisclosed
The Lepel Military Sanatorium, which is subordinated to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Belarus, has been admitting people like Kubasov and Palzakhnouski since 2023. The BRC was told this by the institution's marketing department. Journalists called there, using the cover story of journalists from a state media outlet, but this time a Russian one.
"This category of citizens from the Russian Federation undergoes health improvement, sanatorium-resort treatment with us annually," said a sanatorium employee.
Russian servicemen do not pay for their stay. Vouchers are provided to them by state bodies and charitable organizations. One of them is the "Defenders of the Fatherland" fund, managed by the Deputy Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation and, as the Russian publication 'Verstka' claims, Vladimir Putin's relative Anna Tsivileva. The basis for providing such a service, according to the sanatorium employee, is an agreement with the Standing Committee of the Union State: "This [concerns] not only the 'SMO'. These are veterans of the Great Patriotic War, as well as Afghan veterans." She refused to answer other questions, stating that "the format for presenting this information first needs to be discussed with the head of the sanatorium."
The agreement mentioned by the interviewee most likely concerns measures for organizing sanatorium-resort treatment, provided for by the resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Union State from 2011. Initially, it was aimed at people with disabilities and veterans of the Great Patriotic War, but in 2022 the document was adjusted. The list of those entitled to receive resort and sanatorium treatment at the expense of the Union State budget was supplemented to include people with disabilities and veterans of combat operations, including those in another country. This official document provides for the recuperation of Russian military personnel in Belarusian health resorts.
In 2024, three Belarusian sanatoriums participated in the program's implementation – the already mentioned Lepel Military, "Chabarok" and "Sasnovy Bor", as well as two Russian ones – "Peredelkino" and "Karacharovo".
Funding is provided from the budget of the Union State. This year, 26 million Russian rubles, or almost 950 thousand Belarusian rubles (about $312 thousand), were allocated for the health improvement needs of veterans. In 2024, the amount was smaller – 877 thousand Belarusian rubles for 389 vouchers, 180 of which were for our health resorts. How many of them were for soldiers who fought against Ukraine is unknown to us.
Lukashenka is Ready to Help
Soon, hundreds of former 'SMO' participants may arrive at Belarusian sanatoriums. Russian and Belarusian authorities are discussing a special rehabilitation assistance program for former participants in the war in Ukraine. The governor of the Leningrad region, Alexander Drozdenko, is involved in this. At the end of September, he visited Belarus. He was met by First Deputy Prime Minister Nikolai Snopkov.
At the same time, Drozdenko's wife, Irina, who heads the Vsevolozhsk Multicenter for Social and Labor Integration, visited sanatorium-resort institutions in the Minsk region and held negotiations with the leadership of the Mogilev region executive committee. As a result, an agreement was reached on the creation of a rehabilitation program for Russian military personnel and their families in Belarusian sanatoriums.
It is expected that at least 800 people will undergo recuperation in our country annually. The terms and conditions are currently being worked out by the Social Protection Committee of the Leningrad region. The initiative has already been approved by Nikolai Snopkov, as reported by Russian media, while Belarusian state media did not pay attention to these plans.
The Belarusian and Russian sides have been discussing the possibility of sending participants of the war against Ukraine to our sanatoriums for several years. In September 2023, Alexander Drozdenko already raised this issue during a meeting with Nikolai Snopkov. At that time, the Leningrad governor complained that Russia lacked its own resources. Last year, Drozdenko proposed using Belarusian resorts for the recuperation of Russian soldiers to Alexander Lukashenka himself. He expressed readiness to help, without mentioning that Belarus had already provided its sanatoriums for former participants of the war in Ukraine.
Journalists
The Belarusian and Russian sides have been discussing the possibility of sending participants of the war against Ukraine to our sanatoriums for several years. In September 2023, Alexander Drozdenko already raised this issue during a meeting with Nikolai Snopkov. At that time, the Leningrad governor complained that Russia lacked its own resources. Last year, Drozdenko proposed using Belarusian resorts for the recuperation of Russian soldiers to Alexander Lukashenka himself. He expressed readiness to help, without mentioning that Belarus had already provided its sanatoriums for former participants of the war in Ukraine.
We sent inquiries to the Russian fund "Defenders of the Fatherland", the Lepel Military Sanatorium, and the Ministry of Health of Belarus with a request to comment on how many former 'SMO' participants underwent rehabilitation in Belarusian sanatoriums, and also at what stage the development of the joint assistance program is. At the time of publication, none of them had responded.
Sent inquiries to the Russian fund "Defenders of the Fatherland", the Lepel Military Sanatorium, and the Ministry of Health of Belarus with a request to comment on how many former 'SMO' participants underwent rehabilitation in Belarusian sanatoriums, and also at what stage the development of the joint assistance program is. At the time of publication, none of them had responded.
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