Panic in Moscow: 116 Russian veterans convicted of murder in 2023
British intelligence services believe that the conflict in Ukraine has led to a sharp increase in crimes committed by Russian veterans, upon their return to their country.
The cocktail is dangerous: violence, alcohol, drugs and boredom.
In its latest assessment of the conflict, published on its account on the social media network X, the British Ministry of Defense cites information from the Mediazone portal, linked to the Russian opposition, which details that 116 Russian servicemen were convicted of murder in 2023, a figure up 900% compared to the previous year, when 13 servicemen were convicted.
Among the cases cited by British intelligence services is that of a former mercenary of the Wagner Group sentenced to 22 years in prison for raping and murdering an elderly woman, after completing his duties on combat tour.
According to the UK, “these high numbers are likely due in part to chronic and poorly treated mental health issues stemming from the war,” including “post-traumatic stress disorder and desensitization to violence."
“Alcohol and drug abuse due to low morale and boredom are likely to be contributing factors,” the report notes, which also highlights the additional problem of the general population returning from combat service, who have “a pre-existing propensity for criminality and extreme violence.”
(MH with FM/Source: X/Photo: Valery Teneyov/Unsplash)