Nearly 140,000 Russian soldiers have transitioned back to civilian life after their involvement in the conflict with Ukraine and are now in need of support for reintegration, according to a Kremlin official on Thursday.

“Approximately 137,000 servicemen have returned from the frontlines of the special military operation,” stated Sergei Novikov, the head of the Kremlin’s Directorate for Social Projects, during a state-sponsored youth forum.

“This group primarily consists of young individuals, mostly under the age of 35,” Novikov noted, as reported by the TASS news agency. “They require assistance with retraining and securing new employment—specifically, jobs that are not just any positions but are decent ones. Currently, while deployed in combat, they receive substantial wages.”

While serving in Ukraine, soldiers earn a minimum of 204,000 rubles ($2,600) monthly.

“They should be able to return home in a manner that does not result in a decline in their household income,” Novikov emphasized.

The Russian government estimates that slightly more than half of the demobilized veterans have found work and has initiated various support programs, including vocational training and financial incentives for businesses to employ veterans with disabilities.

The urgency of reintegration initiatives has escalated, as there has been a noted increase in violent offenses involving returning veterans. Judicial records indicate that Russian soldiers have been responsible for at least 378 fatalities after returning to civilian life since the start of the invasion in February 2022.

According to lawmakers, the Russian Defense Ministry estimates that approximately 20% of war veterans may experience post-traumatic stress disorder. Moreover, Russia has fewer than one therapist for every 7,000 adults, and there are even fewer professionals trained to treat combat-related trauma.