Russia's "black widows": How death benefits corrupt society - Eastern Express - TVP WORLD

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Russia’s war in Ukraine has created a grim new economy — one where death comes with a price tag.

In this episode of Eastern Express, Jonasz Rewiński speaks with Mark McNamee of the Ukraine Business Network about the rise of so-called “black widows”: women who marry Russian soldiers in order to claim financial compensation after their deaths.

Drawing on court cases and investigative reporting, we reveal how state incentives have warped personal relationships, morality, and even local economies across Russia. This is not just a story about fraud — it’s a systemic failure driven by the Kremlin’s determination to sustain the war at any cost.