In the Russian Federation, the number of murders committed by military personnel has increased by 900%.

On April 8, 2024, the New York Times reported, citing Olga Romanova, head of the organization Russia Behind Bars, that 15 thousand pardoned prisoners returned to Russia from the combat zone.

British intelligence analyzed data on a sharp increase in the number of killings carried out by the Russian military in Russia last year, according to the British Ministry of Defense’s daily analysis of the Russian-Ukrainian war.

On April 18, 2024, the Mediazona website reported that in 2023, 116 Russian military personnel were convicted of murder in Russia. This is almost 900% more than last year. In 2022 there were 13 such judgments, in 2021 – 11.

On April 8, 2024, the New York Times reported, citing Olga Romanova, head of the organization Russia Behind Bars, that 15 thousand pardoned prisoners returned to Russia from the combat zone.

Russian media outlet Verstka reported that 190 criminal cases were opened against former convicts, including 20 cases of murder or attempted murder in 2023.

On April 24, 2024, it was reported that a Kirov court sentenced a former prisoner from the Wagner group to 22 years for the murder and rape of an elderly woman after his release.

“The high number of murders committed by Russian soldiers and veterans is likely due to chronic war-related mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and desensitization in the field of war on violence,” they told the British Ministry of Defence.

The fact that ex-prisoners use alcohol and drugs “due to low morale and boredom” also likely contributes to the violence.

This makes it difficult for ex-convicts with previous propensities for crime and extreme violence to return “to the people.”

Let’s recall that two Russian war criminals killed five people in the occupied part of the Kherson region. Among those killed were civilians, the occupying “village chief” and soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces.