Kursk Becomes First Region to Appoint Ukraine War Veterans’ Rights Ombudsman

Oct. 19, 2026 Maxim Kalutskikh. kurskcity.ru The southwestern Kursk region has become the first in Russia to appoint an ombudsman tasked with ensuring the rights of veterans who fought in the war against Ukraine, Governor Alexander Khinshtein announced Monday. “Essentially, we’re the first region where such a position is being introduced on a systematic basis,” Khinshtein said during a weekly regional government meeting. Maxim Kalutskhikh, a retired army colonel born in the Kursk region, will fill the newly created post. Kalutskikh fought in Ukraine between 2022 and 2023 and currently serves as deputy chairman of the Kursk region’s veterans association. He graduated from the Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School and has also served in an elite unit within Russia’s FSB security service. Governor Khinshtein previously said the veterans’ rights ombudsman will help families with filling out government paperwork and applying for benefits, as well as in any other “situation where someone hits a dead end.” In other regions, human rights ombudspeople currently handle complaints from veterans and their families. Difficulties faced by veterans are often related to military medical board decisions, payment issues, confirmation of kinship with deceased service members and mistaken AWOL classifications, according to the exiled news outlet Govorit Nemoskva. Read more about: Kursk , Regions , Veterans Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Russian Government Allocates Nearly $17M for Displaced Kursk Residents Following Protests In December, displaced residents protested the Kursk regional government’s decision to end monthly compensation payments for those whose homes were... 2 Min read Kursk Deputy Governor Placed in Pre-Trial Detention Over Alleged Border Defense Fraud Police accuse Vladimir Bazarov of overseeing the embezzlement of around $3.1 million by inflating costs for anti-tank structures. 2 Min read Russia Says Evacuated Over 350 Civilians From Retaken Areas in Kursk Region The civilians became trapped when Ukraine launched its surprise incursion in August 2024, more than two years into Russia's offensive. 1 Min read Russian Officials Say Ukrainian Attacks Kill 3 Russian officials said Ukrainian bombardments had left two people dead in separate attacks on a Russian border region and a village in occupied Ukraine... 1 Min read