Veteran of military service
A military veteran is a member of the armed forces of the Soviet Union, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, other military units, formations, and bodies in which military service is provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation, the United Armed Forces of the states-participants of the Commonwealth of Independent States created in accordance with the Charter of the Commonwealth of Independent States, who have been awarded orders or medals, or conferred honorary titles of the Soviet Union or the Russian Federation, or awarded departmental distinctions, provided that the total duration of military service of these military personnel is 20 years or more, as well as military personnel who became disabled due to injury, concussion, wound, or illness sustained in connection with the performance of military service duties. The above requirements apply to military personnel who have been discharged from military service to the reserve (retirement)1.
Federal Law No. 40-FZ of January 2, 2000, "On Amending and Supplementing Federal Law 'On Veterans' dated January 2, 2000, as amended on January 2, 2000, Article 5, paragraph 1 // Official Gazette of the Russian Federation. 2000. No. 2. Article 161. ↩