Putin's succession plan: These are the people who could be Russia's next leaders

Putin succession plan: Russian President Vladimir Putin has made it clear that the next generation of political leaders in Russia should come from those who have fought in the war in Ukraine, as per a report.

Vladimir Putin Wants Ukraine War Veterans to Lead Russia’s Future

During a meeting with different factions of the State Duma, Putin said the country must seek out and promote people who have shown fearlessness in serving the motherland, those willing to risk their health and even their lives on the battlefield, as per a Newsweek report.

Putin said, "We must search for, find, and put forward people who are fearless in serving the Motherland and who have been willing to risk their health and even their lives," adding, "Such people should be promoted to leadership positions. They will be our successors. This is something we need to think about. And thank you for putting forward such people," as quoted in the report.


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This statement highlights a further shift toward hard-line Russian nationalism under Putin’s rule, reinforcing a political system already tightly controlled by the ruling United Russia party. With little room for opposition, the future leadership seems set to be shaped by those loyal to Moscow’s war effort.

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, hundreds of thousands of Russian troops have been drafted, including prisoners released early from sentences, as per the Newsweek report.

Independent Russian media publication Mediazona and the BBC estimated that about 130,150 Russian military losses have been recorded so far, as per the report. While many veterans return home deeply traumatized, creating a new wave of social problems for the Russian state to tackle, including violent crime, as per the Newsweek report.

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Over 1.5 Million Russians Have Served in Ukraine War

Mark Galeotti, a British expert on Russia, said that, "All told, perhaps over 1.5 million Russian men and women had participated in the war as of the start of 2025," adding, "As more and more of them begin to be demobilized and return home, Russia will see an influx of veterans... bearing the psychological impacts of war," as quoted in the report.

Ukraine-Russia War Still Ongoing

The war itself shows no signs of ending soon, even though US president Donald Trump tried to broker a peace deal, as per Newsweek. Despite efforts to negotiate a peace deal, major disagreements remain over territorial control and Ukraine’s future security arrangements.

FAQs

Why does Putin want veterans to become political leaders?
Putin believes those who have risked their lives for Russia in the Ukraine war have proven their loyalty and courage, as per the Newsweek report.

How many Russians have fought in the Ukraine war?
As of 2025, around 1.5 million Russian men and women are believed to have participated in the war, according to expert Mark Galeotti.