From 18 April to 2024, the Mediazona website reported that 116 Russian military personnel were convicted of murder in 2023. This is nearly 900% more than the previous year in the camp, compared to 13 convictions in 2022 and 11 in 2021. It reported the British Ministry of Defense in its daily summary of the war in Ukraine.
On April 8, 2024, the New York Times, citing Olga Romanova, head of "Russia behind bars", stated that more than 15,000 pardoned prisoners had returned to Russia. Russian media note that 190 cases have been filed against the former prisoners, including 20 for murder and attempted murder.
On April 24, 2024, an ex-prisoner recruited by PMC Wagner was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the murder and rape of an elderly woman.
The number of homicides by Russian active-duty soldiers and veterans is likely due to long-term work-related chronic mental health problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder
Alcoholism and drug use due to low morale and boredom are likely contributing factors. The problem is compounded by the return to the general population of ex-prisoners with a prior propensity for crime and extreme violence.