Rising fear in Russia: Homecoming 'defenders' from Ukraine cause spike in crime rates
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As the project, "Violence.net," has identified, the two-year war with Ukraine has significantly degraded Russia’s internal safety, with violence becoming an alarming issue. Anna Rivina, the head of the center, underlines that current statistics represent just the tip of the iceberg: wartime significantly skews these figures, discouraging victims from reporting incidents to the police.
Based solely on publicly available data, occupiers who have returned from Ukraine have already been responsible for the murder of 51 individuals within Russia, with counts of physical assault, sexual assault, robbery, and other violent crimes reaching into the thousands.
The majority of the perpetrators are members of the Wagner Group
The Center brings attention to a case involving a former member of the Wagner Group, who, in Kuban, set fire to a residence, resulting in the deaths of two women. Mass murders occurred in Karelia, where a former mercenary and his accomplice took the lives of six individuals. In a separate incident, another individual set the Kostroma club ablaze, causing the death of thirteen individuals.
"Z-liberators" return to Russia
Returnees from Ukraine, known as "Z-Liberators," have reportedly committed numerous thefts. In Yemelyanovo (Krasnoyarsk Territory), a former Wagner Group member, Serhij Yushchuk, attempted to forcibly gain entry into a residential apartment. Alarmed neighbours called the police, who attempted to apprehend Yushchuk. They were successful, but not before the Wagner Group member had physically assaulted the officers.
It was uncovered by the project that Yushchuk had been convicted four times for theft and robbery.
He served his sentences in a high-security prison and it was during this time that he was recruited to fight in Ukraine. Upon completion of his service, he was pardoned and returned to his previous criminal behaviour.
The article concludes, "Russian soldiers who have committed crimes within the territory of the Russian Federation generally receive very light sentences. This tendency extends even to individuals who have been formerly convicted under serious articles of the Russian Criminal Code."
