Russia is reportedly deploying penal units consisting of soldiers who have committed disciplinary infractions to shoulder some of the most dangerous fighting in the ongoing war against Ukraine.
Hundreds of military and civilian offenders have been assigned to “Storm-Z” squads to fight on the frontlines of Ukraine, 13 sources — including five Storm-Z fighters — reportedly told Reuters.
Drunk recruits, insubordinate soldiers and convicts are among hundreds of military and civilian offenders pressed into Russian penal units known as ‘Storm-Z’ squads and sent to the frontlines in Ukraine this year. Few live to tell their tale https://t.co/4r2gavpefx
— Reuters (@Reuters) October 3, 2023
“Storm fighters, they’re just meat,” one soldier from army unit no. 40318 who was deployed near Bakhmut in May and June said, per the outlet. “If the commandants catch anyone with the smell of alcohol on their breath, then they immediately send them to the Storm squads.”
Most Storm-Z soldiers are civilians convicts, while others are soldiers assigned to the squads as punishment for for being drunk on duty, using drugs, refusing to carry out orders or otherwise breaking discipline, the outlet reported. (RELATED: REPORT: Russian Priest Trains Kids To Fly War Drones At Church School)
Storm-Z squads have participated in brutal battles and received medals of bravery, according to Russian state-controlled media, Reuters reported. The squads consist of 100 to 150 people, anonymous Storm-Z soldiers and relatives of soldiers said, per the outlet, and one soldier claimed that only 15 of the 120 men sent to a battle near Bakhmut in June survived the fighting.
“The Storm fighters are just sent to the most dangerous parts of the front, in defense and in attack,” the Conflict Intelligence Team, an independent Russian organization tracking the war, said, per Reuters.
One group of 20 Storm-Z fighters in Zaporizhzhia revolted by refusing an order to return to the frontlines, per the outlet. Two soldiers from unit number 22179 recorded a video on June 28 complaining about their treatment, the outlet reported. Military police officers responded by beating the two soldiers as well as other members of their squad, two relatives of the fighters said, according to Reuters.