Rise in convictions of Russian soldiers for brutal crimes amid war
Since the invasion of Ukraine began, at least 192 military personnel have been convicted in Russia for brutal crimes, as calculated by Novaya Gazeta Europe, which reviewed data from court websites. With each month of war actions, the incidence of such crimes is increasing.
As the newspaper calculates, 49 cases were initiated on the charge of "murder." 143 individuals were charged with causing bodily harm of varying severity. The actions of 26 of them resulted in the victim's death. Among those who committed crimes against life and health, every sixth military person is punished.
Mainly children are victims
The publication notes that with each month of war actions, the occurrence of these crimes is increasing. In 2023, their number increased thirteenfold. In the first six months, war participants set a record for brutal sexual crimes.
In September, the Garrison Military Court in Bryansk sentenced a 36-year-old contract soldier to 15 years in prison for abusing his 10-year-old stepdaughter. In April in Tuva, a 24-year-old war veteran raped and killed a 66-year-old retiree.
The Sybir.Reali portal points out an increase in the number of sexual crimes committed by Russian military personnel in 2023. "In the eight months of the year, military courts received at least 64 cases of rape, with every second victim being a child," it reads.
The number of sentences against military personnel has increased by sevenfold. Besides violent crimes, they are convicted for driving under the influence of alcohol (252 convictions), drug trafficking (141), theft (84), and fraud in obtaining payments (55).
According to the criminal code, a repeat offender cannot receive "less than one-third of the maximum penalty provided for the committed crime" unless mitigating circumstances exist. However, courts typically treat war participants more leniently than ordinary citizens.
Brought a medal. Received a ludicrous sentence
The sentence of a former Wagner Group mercenary, who gouged out his ex-wife's eyes in front of their daughter, caused widespread public outrage. The woman, who had to have the crushed bones of her face replaced with a titanium plate, was prosecuted for deliberately causing moderate bodily harm. But the accused brought a medal "For the capture of Bakhmut" to court and was only fined 5,000 rubles.
The same applies to judgments on other offenses. For example, over 80 percent of accused military personnel receive fines for driving under the influence of alcohol – 13 times more often than in the entire country. Most Russians convicted under this article are sentenced to forced labor. 70 percent of veterans are fined for drug trafficking.
This is the mildest punishment; others face it half as often. The only crime for which military personnel are punished more severely is dealing in explosive materials. Under this article, they receive actual sentences four times more often than civilians.
