Russia’s ‘black widows’ are marrying soldiers to get their death payouts

'People see these death payments as the chance to make some money. This is the only opportunity that people may have to transform their lives.'

St. Petersburg, Russia —  When Maria was told by the Russian military that her 59-year-old father had been shot on the front lines of the Ukraine war and had later died of his wounds, she was distraught and doubly shocked. Not only was she unaware that her dad, Yury, had enlisted in the army, she was …

The growing controversy has prompted calls for tighter oversight from Russian lawmakersAs Russia's war in Ukraine grinds into its fifth year, a disturbing new phenomenon has emerged on the home front. Women accused of entering sham marriages with army recruits to claim lucrative state compensation after their deaths ha

In this "black widow" scam, vulnerable men are persuaded into sham marriages just before deployment. If they are killed, their new wives legally receive the compensation, leaving parents, children or siblings with nothing.

Russia’s 'black widows': Wartime brides marrying for money  CNN