Russia Has Allowed People Missing An Arm Or A Leg To Drive Buses

• 22.08.2026, 11:55

The Russian Federation is preparing to place "heroes of the special military operation" in jobs.

The Russian government has removed from the list of medical contraindications for operating public and freight transportation a number of conditions related to the absence or severe deformity of arms, legs, hands, feet, and fingers, according to The Moscow Times.

This follows from a Cabinet of Ministers decree published on the legal information portal. At the same time, a new restriction has been introduced: the absence of both upper limbs or both hands, or their deformation that “significantly impedes movement,” is now considered an absolute contraindication. Thus, people with one amputated arm or one amputated leg are officially permitted to drive buses and trucks.

The initiative was proposed last October by Ilya Zotov, head of the All-Russian Passengers’ Association (OOP). He noted that a left leg is not necessary to drive a bus with an automatic transmission, calling for the hiring of “heroes of the special military operation” who have become disabled as drivers. According to Zotov, such a decision would pose no danger to passengers and would allow those who participated in the invasion of Ukraine to earn “more than 100,000 rubles” per month in addition to their disability pensions. “It’s important for them to work and be useful to society. The industry will benefit from this, and these people will be in demand,” he said.