Russia employs disposable convict units to wage war on Ukraine.
Russian Penal Units Sent to Frontlines in Ukraine
Drunk recruits. Insubordinate soldiers. Convicts. These are just some of the individuals who have been pressed into Russian penal units known as “Storm-Z” squads and sent to the frontlines in Ukraine this year, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the matter.
These squads, consisting of hundreds of military and civilian offenders, are embedded within regular army units and are often deployed to the most dangerous parts of the front. However, few survive to tell their tale.
“Storm fighters, they’re just meat,” said one regular soldier who witnessed the mistreatment of Storm-Z fighters near the city of Bakhmut. He described how these fighters were considered of lesser value than ordinary troops by officers.
The soldier, who spoke anonymously due to fear of prosecution, revealed that recruits with the smell of alcohol on their breath were immediately sent to the Storm squads. This practice highlights the disregard for their lives.
While the Russian defense ministry and the Kremlin declined to comment on Storm-Z, state-controlled media has reported their existence and their participation in intense battles. However, the formation and losses of these squads have not been disclosed.
Reuters is the first news organization to compile a comprehensive account of how the squads are put together and deployed, speaking to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the matter.
From Custody to Carnage
Storm-Z is an unofficial term used by Russian troops, combining a term for assault troops with the letter Z, symbolizing their invasion of Ukraine.
One example is Artyom Shchikin, a convict serving a two-year sentence for robbery. He volunteered to fight in Ukraine to wipe clean his criminal record and earn money for his family. By May, he was assigned to a penal unit within the 291st Guards Motorised Rifle Regiment and deployed to the Zaporizhzhia region.
Shchikin’s relatives last heard from him on June 18. Days later, his unit came under Ukrainian fire, resulting in casualties and Shchikin’s disappearance. The defense ministry has provided no definitive answers about his fate.
Drunk on Duty, Using Drugs
In addition to convicts, some regular soldiers have been assigned to the penal squads as punishment for disciplinary breaches. Officers have sent soldiers to Storm-Z for being drunk on duty, using drugs, or refusing to carry out orders.
According to Russian legislation, a soldier can only be transferred to a penal unit if convicted by a military court. However, none of the sources mentioned any court hearings involved in such transfers.
Revolt of Storm-Z Fighters
A group of Storm-Z fighters in Zaporizhzhia refused to go back to the frontline and recorded a video expressing their grievances. They complained about the lack of supplies, the neglect of the injured, and the dreadful orders they were given. After the video was published, the fighters were beaten by military police officers as punishment.
The relatives of these fighters stated that conditions have improved since the incident, but it remains uncertain when they will be allowed to leave the military.
As the conflict continues, the families of these fighters anxiously await news from the front, hoping for an end to the war.
(Reporting by Polina Nikolskaya and Maria Tsvetkova; editing by Christian Lowe and Pravin Char)
Why has there been a lack of transparency regarding the formation and casualties of the Storm-Z units in Ukraine
To refer to the penal units comprised of undesirable recruits sent to fight on the frontlines in Ukraine. These recruits include drunkards, insubordinate soldiers, and convicts. As disturbing as it sounds, this practice has been confirmed by multiple sources with inside information.
The Storm-Z squads, which consist of hundreds of military and civilian offenders, are incorporated within regular army units and are often deployed to the most hazardous areas of the front. It is a grim reality that few of these individuals survive to share their stories.
One witness, a regular soldier who preferred to remain anonymous out of fear of persecution, attested to the mistreatment he observed towards the Storm-Z fighters near the city of Bakhmut. According to him, these fighters were deemed of lesser value than their fellow soldiers by their officers. He bluntly described them as “meat,” highlighting the callousness with which their lives are regarded.
The soldier further disclosed that recruits detected with the smell of alcohol on their breath are immediately conscripted into the Storm-Z squads. This practice reinforces the disregard for their lives and signifies that their well-being is considered expendable.
While both the Russian defense ministry and the Kremlin declined to comment on the existence of Storm-Z units, state-controlled media has acknowledged their presence and their involvement in intense battles. Curiously, the formation and casualties of these units have not been publicly disclosed, leaving a shroud of secrecy around their operations.
In a groundbreaking report, Reuters is the first news organization to compile a comprehensive account of how the Storm-Z squads are assembled and deployed. This compilation involved conversations with multiple sources possessing direct knowledge of the subject matter.
By shedding light on the plight of these penal units, it becomes evident that they are viewed as disposable assets, utilized for their expendability on the frontlines in Ukraine. Such disregard for human life is deeply concerning and antithetical to the principles of humanity and decency.
As this report exposes the harsh reality faced by the Storm-Z fighters, it is imperative that the international community takes notice and condemn the mistreatment and exploitation of these individuals. Their lives matter, and their stories must be heard, bringing attention to this egregious violation of human rights occurring on the frontlines in Ukraine.
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