On April 18, 2024, the Mediazona website reported that 116 russian military personnel were convicted of murder in 2023. This is nearly 900% higher than the previous year. This compares to 13 convictions in 2022 and 11 in 2021, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
On April 8, 2024, the New York Times, citing Olga Romanova, head of russia Behind Bars, found that 15,000 pardoned prisoners had returned to russia. Russian media outlet Vertska reported that former convicts were prosecuted against in 190 criminal cases, including 20 murder or attempted murder cases in 2023. On April 24, 2024, it was reported that an ex-Wagner prisoner was sentenced by the Kirov court to 22 years for murdering and raping an elderly woman, following his discharge.
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The high numbers of homicides by serving and veteran russian soldiers are likely in part due to enduring war-related chronic poor mental health issues. These include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and battlefield desensitisation to violence. Alcoholism and drug use from low morale and boredom are likely contributing factors. Compounding this is the return into the general population of ex-convicts with a pre-existing propensity for criminality and extreme violence.
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