Russian Man Retires at 23 with Full Pension After Just 2 Years of Work

A young Russian man, Pavel Stepchenko, has achieved an extraordinary feat by retiring at just 23 years old with a full pension after only two years of work. Stepchenko, from Donetsk, took advantage of a special legal provision that allowed him to fast-track his pension eligibility.

Starting his career early, Stepchenko enrolled in the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs at the age of 16. After five years of intense training, he secured a position in the internal affairs division. Thanks to a unique provision under martial law, which credits three months of service for each month worked, Stepchenko rapidly accumulated enough service years. By November 2023, he applied for and was granted a full pension.

Stepchenko’s early retirement has been recognized as a national record by the International Record Registration Agency. His case has sparked debate about the sustainability of such legal loopholes while highlighting Russia’s social protection system. Nonetheless, Stepchenko now enjoys financial security and early freedom, a rare privilege for someone his age.