Russian soldiers returning from nearly four years of war in Ukraine have killed or injured more than 1,000 people inside Russia, according to court records cited by Verstka, an independent Russian media outlet.
The investigation reports that at least 551 people have died at the hands of veterans of Russia’s “special military operation.” Victims include 274 people who were murdered, 163 who died from severe beatings, 78 killed in road accidents, and 36 who died in other crimes, including forced drug use. More than half of those killed were victims of former convicts released from prison to fight in Ukraine.
Another 465 people were seriously injured, with over half of those cases also involving ex-convict fighters. Most crimes stemmed from domestic conflicts often driven by alcohol or drugs, frequently involving family members or acquaintances. Courts charged veterans with offenses ranging from murder and attempted murder to grievous bodily harm and traffic violations, while often treating war participation as a mitigating factor.
Verstka notes that the true number of such crimes is likely higher due to limited publication of court rulings and the removal of details linking offenders to service in Ukraine.
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE: If you would like to support our independent journalism at Good Morning World, please subscribe to our daily newsletter. It’s FREE and appears 7 mornings a week. As we prepare to install a fully-automated sign-up, in the meantime please send an email with the word SUBSCRIBE to ianrbrodie@gmail com.