Russian troopers scammed and robbed of battle money on return from Ukraine

[ad_1] Sergei Goryashko & Investigations Crew BBC Information Russian

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/ef2c/live/386b2040-6c7a-11f0-9558-7138ef2ed62f.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/ef2c/live/386b2040-6c7a-11f0-9558-7138ef2ed62f.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ef2c/live/386b2040-6c7a-11f0-9558-7138ef2ed62f.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/ef2c/live/386b2040-6c7a-11f0-9558-7138ef2ed62f.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/ef2c/live/386b2040-6c7a-11f0-9558-7138ef2ed62f.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/ef2c/live/386b2040-6c7a-11f0-9558-7138ef2ed62f.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/ef2c/live/386b2040-6c7a-11f0-9558-7138ef2ed62f.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ef2c/live/386b2040-6c7a-11f0-9558-7138ef2ed62f.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="BBC Illustration showing a man taking cash from a cashpoint in Russia while two shadowy figures in uniforms stand in front" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> BBC Russia's President Vladimir Putin promised Russian troopers a hero's welcome after they return from Ukraine, however the BBC has discovered instances of servicemen robbed and scammed for his or her salaries and pay-offs by authorities officers.

Because the invasion started in February 2022, President Putin has trebled the dimensions of the Russian military, counting on monetary incentives to draw volunteers.

Like hundreds of Russians, 39-year outdated Nikita Khursa went to struggle in Ukraine for the cash.

Relying on the area, a recruit can rise up to five.2m roubles (£47,000) within the first yr of service, plus as much as 4m roubles for accidents.

This could quantity to 600% of the typical nationwide wage.

For a lot of, hailing from Russia's poorer areas, it's irresistible regardless of the chance of not coming again.

A welder initially from a city in Rostov area, near Ukraine, Nikita Khursa solely spent a few months on the entrance in the summertime of 2024, earlier than being wounded and despatched again residence to get better.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/5fb9/live/daeedbb0-6c91-11f0-bf2e-55eecfefc576.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/5fb9/live/daeedbb0-6c91-11f0-bf2e-55eecfefc576.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5fb9/live/daeedbb0-6c91-11f0-bf2e-55eecfefc576.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/5fb9/live/daeedbb0-6c91-11f0-bf2e-55eecfefc576.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/5fb9/live/daeedbb0-6c91-11f0-bf2e-55eecfefc576.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/5fb9/live/daeedbb0-6c91-11f0-bf2e-55eecfefc576.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/5fb9/live/daeedbb0-6c91-11f0-bf2e-55eecfefc576.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/5fb9/live/daeedbb0-6c91-11f0-bf2e-55eecfefc576.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Nikita Khursa A man in a black top hugs his wife, with blonde hair and a black leather jacket" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Nikita Khursa Nikita Khursa and his spouse Oksana had hoped to purchase a flat with the cash he made preventing for Russia

That harm earned him a hefty bonus, which he and his spouse Oksana had deliberate to spend on shopping for a flat.

Nonetheless, after falling out together with her one night time over his ingesting, he stormed out, drunk, upset and barefoot - with a plastic bag containing their financial savings in money.

In his drunken state, Khursa determined to drive to Rostov and purchase an condominium there as a substitute.

"If my spouse had been wiser, she would have advised me to sleep over it and determine within the morning", he laments to the BBC.

He acquired into his automobile however did not drive very far earlier than being stopped by the visitors police who seen the bag and demanded a bribe.

Khursa advised the 2 officers he had just lately returned from Ukraine.

"Let's not do that, he is simply come again from the battle," he remembers one police officer suggesting. However the different one, seeing the money, stated: "Shut up, have you learnt how a lot cash that's?"

They took virtually the whole lot - 2.66m roubles (£24,000).

The officers had no regard for Vladimir Putin's guarantees that those that determined to affix Russia's battle towards Ukraine ought to be handled as heroes and "the brand new elite" upon their return.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/e723/live/a2dfc920-6c94-11f0-9a27-87bb9aa7e3da.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/e723/live/a2dfc920-6c94-11f0-9a27-87bb9aa7e3da.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e723/live/a2dfc920-6c94-11f0-9a27-87bb9aa7e3da.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/e723/live/a2dfc920-6c94-11f0-9a27-87bb9aa7e3da.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/e723/live/a2dfc920-6c94-11f0-9a27-87bb9aa7e3da.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/e723/live/a2dfc920-6c94-11f0-9a27-87bb9aa7e3da.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/e723/live/a2dfc920-6c94-11f0-9a27-87bb9aa7e3da.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/e723/live/a2dfc920-6c94-11f0-9a27-87bb9aa7e3da.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Illustration showing soldiers in Ukraine" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Putin has relied on monetary incentives to triple the dimensions of the navy

In one other case, a number of cops who labored at a Moscow airport are suspected of tipping off taxi drivers about servicemen getting back from the entrance.

The drivers would supply an affordable fare, after which, after finishing the experience, they might demand as much as 15 occasions extra.

Those that resisted have been threatened; some have been allegedly drugged or intoxicated whereas the thieves used their financial institution playing cards.

Investigators imagine the gang took a minimum of 1.5m roubles from returning troopers.

Generally salaries are stolen earlier than the servicemen have even seen the cash.

In October 2024, police arrested three workers members of a recruitment centre in Vladimir area for stealing greater than 11m roubles from troopers.

The suspects acquired entry to their wage accounts by preserving for themselves the sim playing cards that had been issued to the brand new recruits and have been tied to the accounts.

In one other case, a neighborhood official from Belgorod area is suspected of stealing greater than 1,000,000 roubles from new recruits by linking their financial institution accounts to his personal cellphone quantity.

Generally troopers have been robbed by their very own commanders.

One serviceman advised the BBC his unit was denied entry to outlets and ordered handy over their financial institution playing cards and PIN numbers to a sergeant main.

The officer allegedly ended up with 50 wage playing cards, many belonging to troopers now listed as lacking in motion.

In keeping with the soldier we spoke to, he fled with the cash . Some playing cards reportedly had as much as 2m roubles on them.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/4991/live/daa50a30-6ccd-11f0-8c4e-673c604b7a6d.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/4991/live/daa50a30-6ccd-11f0-8c4e-673c604b7a6d.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4991/live/daa50a30-6ccd-11f0-8c4e-673c604b7a6d.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/4991/live/daa50a30-6ccd-11f0-8c4e-673c604b7a6d.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/4991/live/daa50a30-6ccd-11f0-8c4e-673c604b7a6d.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4991/live/daa50a30-6ccd-11f0-8c4e-673c604b7a6d.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/4991/live/daa50a30-6ccd-11f0-8c4e-673c604b7a6d.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4991/live/daa50a30-6ccd-11f0-8c4e-673c604b7a6d.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Nikita Khursa A man in a tracksuit pumps the air with one hand while the other, wearing a gold watch, holds a white carrier bag" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Nikita Khursa Khursa has cut up up along with his spouse and now expects to return to the military

Nikita Khursa reported the 2 officers who took his cash to the police.

They have been charged with theft and abuse of energy, however the case by no means reached court docket.

Each officers signed as much as be a part of the military and went to Ukraine, avoiding prosecution underneath a brand new legislation that permits prison suspects to struggle as a substitute of going through costs.

"At first I used to be offended," Khursa advised the BBC from a hospital close to Saint Petersburg. "Then I assumed, if there's a God, perhaps that is the way it ought to be."

He by no means acquired his a reimbursement and is now awaiting a navy physician's determination on whether or not he should return to the entrance, as contract troopers have to remain within the struggle till the top of the battle.