Russian soldiers returning from nearly four years of war in Ukraine have killed or injured more than 1,000 people inside Russia, based on Russian court records.
A new investigation by Verstka, citing court records, says at least 551 people have died at the hands of veterans of Russia’s so-called “special military operation.”
The victims include:
- 274 people murdered,
- 163 who died from severe beatings,
- 78 killed in road accidents,
- 36 who died in other crimes, including cases where veterans forced victims to take drugs.
More than half of those killed – 163 people – were murdered by former convicts who had been released from prison to fight in Ukraine.
Another 465 people survived but were seriously injured, and many were left disabled. Again, over half of the victims – 252 cases – involved former convicts who fought in Ukraine.
Most of the crimes were domestic conflicts, often fueled by alcohol or drugs, and many victims were family members or acquaintances.
Courts charged the veterans under a wide range of crimes, including murder, attempted murder, grievous bodily harm, exceeding self-defense, and traffic violations.
Courts keep reducing sentences
Verstka found that in over 700 cases, Russian judges considered participation in the war a mitigating factor in 90% of verdicts. Courts also cited state awards, injuries, and “service in defense of the Fatherland” to reduce punishment.
In nearly a quarter of cases, judges softened sentences by blaming victims for “unlawful” or “immoral” behavior. Courts also often ignored alcohol as an aggravating factor: In 326 out of 486 cases involving intoxication, judges did not consider drinking or drug use at all.
True numbers likely higher
The real number of crimes by returning Russian soldiers is likely much higher. Since the 2022 invasion began, garrison courts have almost stopped publishing rulings in such cases. Many decisions that are published remove names or any mention of service in Ukraine. Some rulings are later deleted.
Officially, Russia says no more than 140,000 soldiers have returned to civilian life. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in September that over 700,000 troops are currently deployed in Ukraine.