Russian authorities a huge budget for prosthetics, in the context of the increasing number of people with disabilities due to the war in Ukraine

The authorities in Russia have decided to significantly increase the purchases of prosthetics to support people with disabilities resulting from the war in Ukraine, estimating that hundreds of thousands of Russians need these devices. In the budget for 2026, 98.16 billion rubles (over one billion euros) are allocated for the rehabilitation of these individuals. Compared to previous years, the purchases of prosthetics have tripled, from 33 billion rubles per year in 2020-2021 to 75.4 billion in 2024.

Researchers emphasize that the number of people with disabilities due to the war has drastically increased, with estimates of 376,000 Russians becoming disabled due to injuries sustained on the front lines. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the total losses of the Russian army between 2022-2024 amount to 783,000 individuals, of which 172,000 have died and 611,000 have been injured. Almost half of those severely injured have suffered amputations, suggesting that the number of people with disabilities due to amputations could exceed 180,000. Additionally, the Social Fund reported a record increase of 290,000 people with disabilities in the period 2023-2024, reaching a total of 11.122 million registered individuals at the beginning of 2025.