Funny WSJ article: ‘Black Widows’ Duping Russian Soldiers Into Marriage due to likelihood of dying in the Ukraine war.

https://www.wsj.com/world/russia/russias-new-war-griftersthe-black-widows-duping-soldiers-into-marriage-2d02c6a5?st=jTVgT9&reflink=article_copyURL_share

Russia’s New War Grifters—‘Black Widows’ Duping Soldiers Into Marriage

“Authorities say women are marrying servicemen in attempt to get death payouts that go to their families”

““These monsters have chosen to disgrace the most sacred thing—care for the families of fallen heroes!” lawmaker Leonid Slutsky said this summer. He compared the women involved to looters during the Siege of Leningrad in World War II.

Russian legal experts say the true scale of the problem is hard to ascertain. The Journal identified half a dozen Russian court cases in which it was alleged or concluded that a Russian soldier or their relatives had been cheated of money earned in the trenches through a sham marriage.

Social media makes it easy for potential scammers to find soldiers. On Russia’s VK platform, there are dozens of groups specifically for women seeking potential husbands serving in Ukraine—with names such as “Dates with Soldiers” and “Dates with Shoulder Marks,” a euphemism for someone in uniform.

“Grigoryan, the lawyer representing Kostyrko’s family, said the case was a lesson for Russian society and the growing number of combat veterans it has placed on a pedestal. “Her attempt to profit from her deceased husband’s blood is not just immoral, it is pure betrayal,” he said. “”