Russia’s law enforcement agencies continue to report rising crime following the return of more than 130,000 participants in the war in Ukraine, including former prisoners

20.08.2025

Article published on the moscowtimes.ru website

During the first six months of this year, the Prosecutor General’s Office recorded 27,124 crimes in the Russian Federation, which is 3,747 more than in the same period last year and a record 12-year high, according to Verstka. The figure has not risen above 23,377 per year since 2014.

Verstka didn’t provide any details as to the nature of the offences. However, it is generally known that in the three years since the start of the invasion of Ukraine, Russian soldiers returning from the front have killed 400 civilians, with nearly as many having suffered life-threatening injuries (750 in all). The crimes were committed in 80 Russian regions, in the annexed territories in Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as South Osetia. Most of those who have taken part in the war have assaulted their friends and relatives, with the majority of offences domestic in nature and fuelled by excessive drinking.

Last year, Nina Ostanina, Chair of the State Duma Committee on the Protection of the Family, proposed that ex-prisoners returning from the war should be constantly monitored for the public’s safety. However, a colleague who sits on the Security Committee, Andrey Alshevsky, disagreed, arguing that “these heroes of the Special Military Operation” had “already atoned for their crimes in blood” and should now “be looked after by the State and society”.

The authorities have already started to prepare for serious social tension and an increase in crime in anticipation of the future return to civilian life of hundreds and thousands of military personnel, many of whom are likely to have mental health issues.

According to Faridaily sources, officials are expecting a surge in violence, as well as widespread drug and alcohol abuse. The Ministry of Health has stated that one in four combatants (26%) who have sought psychological help have been referred to a psychiatrist.

In August last year, the Deputy Defence Minister, Anna Tsivileva, said that one in five soldiers returning from the front had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which would require “serious long-term treatment”, as well as “medical intervention”.

Last year, the Russian President said that there were 700,000 soldiers in Ukraine, some of whom were recruited in prisons or involved in criminal cases.

Source: https://www.moscowtimes.ru/2025/08/20/genprokuratura-viyavila-rekordnoe-za12-let-chislo-prestuplenii-vrossii-posle-massovogo-vozvrascheniya-ugolovnikov-sfronta-a172158