Soldiers turned criminals: Inside Russia's post-war violence surge

Over 240 murders in Russia have been committed by soldiers who returned from the war in Ukraine, according to a report prepared by the media project "Viorstka", which focuses on analysing the functioning of society in Russia. The report also states that these veterans maimed 227 people.

More individuals are being recruited into the Russian military. Even criminals are being sent to various units to plug gaps and meet the Kremlin's expectations. These individuals often serve sentences for serious crimes, but they are released from serving their remaining years by expressing a desire to join the army.

According to the PAP publication, since that time, Russian soldiers returning from the front have been responsible for 242 murders and 227 cases of maiming, giving a total of 469 victims.

Journalists from "Viorstka" analysed numerous media publications and court records regarding crimes committed by Russian military personnel. They discovered that in 80 regions of Russia, at least 350 criminal cases have been initiated against war participants. The majority of crimes, 246 in total, were committed by former prisoners recruited to the front. Another 180 crimes were attributed to military personnel.

The "Viorstka" project revealed that former soldiers committed murders, inflicted severe bodily injuries leading to death, caused fatal accidents, death by negligence, and encouraged drug use, often leading to death.

Among the 125 accused pardoned or conditionally released, 54 people had previously been convicted of similar crimes. The vast majority of crimes committed by soldiers returning from the war occurred due to domestic disputes or under the influence of alcohol. Moreover, former prisoners were more likely than other soldiers to commit crimes against women.

Journalists note that participation in the war in Ukraine almost always constituted mitigating circumstances when issuing sentences. Of the 292 analysed verdicts, in 85% of cases, judges considered the defendants' participation in combat activities in Ukraine. In cases of murders caused by negligence or attempted murder, former war participants most often received minimal sentences, which were usually suspended.

The actual number of crimes committed by returning soldiers may be higher, as civil courts do not publish all rulings – the portal believes.