Donetsk, Oct 5 — DAN. More than 280,000 Donetsk People’s Republic residents now receive retirement benefits within the Russian pension system, the regional branch of the Social Fund told the Donetsk News Agency on Thursday.

“The Fund has reviewed some 284,000 applications from DPR residents for granting of pension according to the Russian law, ” the press service said.

Earlier reports said that Russia’s Social Fund had earmarked over 16 trillion rubles for welfare payments in 2024.

On February 17, 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a federal law on pensions in the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republic and Zaporozhye and Kherson regions. The law launched the transition to the Russian pension system starting March 1. The persons eligible for pensions are women and men who have reached the retirement age of 58 and 63, respectively, and have Russian passport with residence registration.*jk