Putin's Heroes: The Kremlin's Veterans Scheme - Eastern Express - TVP WORLD

Vladimir Putin's "Time of Heroes" program promises Russian soldiers elite government positions, but reality reveals a very different picture. Out of thousands of hopeful applicants, just 83 made the cut – many of them already part of Russia’s political elite or linked to serious war crimes allegations. This episode of Eastern Express investigates this hollow promise, exposing the program's questionable criteria and cynical purpose. Is Putin truly rewarding courage, or simply using soldiers as political props? Join us as we unpack the Kremlin’s latest symbolic gesture and the troubling reality behind Russia’s "new elite."