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A resident of the Ulyanovsk Region filed a lawsuit against the social welfare authorities, the Ministry of Defense, and the wife of her grandson who was killed in the area of the Special Military Operation (SMO). She requested the monetary compensation granted to family members of deceased servicemen.

Elena Sakharova stated that she had served as the legal guardian of her grandson, Yevgeny, since 2003 and raised him until he reached adulthood. In 2020, he signed a military service contract, and three years later, he died in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The courts of first instance and appeal denied her claim, ruling in favor of the serviceman’s widow. However, the court of cassation reversed those decisions.

In its review of the case, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation emphasized that in order to be recognized as a de facto caregiver, an individual must prove that they not only raised the child but also provided full financial support for at least five years prior to the child reaching legal adulthood, without receiving monthly guardian remuneration from the state.

The Judicial Chamber for Civil Cases remanded the case for reconsideration by the court of cassation.