Russia using penal battalions as 'cannon fodder' in toughest battle zones in Ukraine — Reuters
The Russian military has established punishment battalions in Ukraine consisting of soldiers who have committed various offenses, which they then deploy as assault forces in the most contested zones of the frontlines, Reuters reported on Oct.3.
The journalists talked to 13 Russian troops, five of whom were members of the Russian Armed Forces.
Sending the soldiers to the Storm-Z unit, which partially consists of former prisoners, has become a way of punishing Russian soldiers who have committed offenses and are participating in the war against Ukraine, the article states.
The Russian Army uses Storm-Z squads, consisting of about 100-150 people and part of regular Russian army units, as assault troops in the most difficult areas of the front.
The news agency dubbed this practice by the Russian army "in echo of Stalin."
Russian soldiers can be sent to Storm-Z units for drinking alcohol, taking drugs, refusing to follow orders, and more.
A serviceman of the Russian Armed Forces, military unit 40318 of the 4th Motorized Rifle Brigade, told reporters that officers do not value the lives of these soldiers, and added, speaking about the "storm fighters": "They’re just meat."
Reuters notes that according to Russian law, a soldier can be transferred to a punishment unit only after being convicted by a military court. At the same time, none of the agency's interlocutors spoke about participating in such hearings.
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