Russian Soldiers Defrauded of War Bonuses Upon Returning from Ukraine
Several Russian servicemen have been scammed and robbed of their salaries and bonuses by officials after returning from the war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged a hero’s welcome for soldiers returning from Ukraine. However, ZAMONA News has uncovered multiple cases of servicemen being defrauded and robbed of their earnings by government officials and others.
Since the invasion began in February 2022, Putin has expanded the Russian army significantly, using financial incentives to recruit volunteers.
Among them is 39-year-old Nikita Khursa, who fought in Ukraine primarily for the money. Depending on the region, recruits can earn up to 5.2 million roubles (£47,000) in their first year, with additional compensation of up to 4 million roubles for injuries, amounting to around 600% of the average Russian salary.
For many from poorer areas, the financial rewards outweigh the risks of deployment.
A welder from the Rostov region near Ukraine, Khursa was wounded after a few months on the front line in summer 2024 and sent home to recover. The injury entitled him to a substantial bonus, which he and his wife Oksana planned to use to buy an apartment.
After an argument with his wife over his drinking, Khursa left home drunk and took their savings in cash. He decided to drive to Rostov to purchase an apartment but was stopped shortly after by police officers who noticed the cash and demanded a bribe.
Although one officer sympathized, the other seized nearly all the money – 2.66 million roubles (£24,000) – ignoring Putin’s promise to treat returning soldiers as heroes and the “new elite.”
Elsewhere, police officers at a Moscow airport allegedly tipped off taxi drivers about returning servicemen. The drivers initially offered fair fares but then demanded up to 15 times more, sometimes threatening or drugging passengers to steal from their bank accounts. Investigators estimate this gang stole at least 1.5 million roubles from soldiers.
- Read more: School-leavers losing their lives for Russia in Putin’s war
In some cases, soldiers’ salaries were stolen before they even received the money. In October 2024, three recruitment center employees in Vladimir region were arrested for stealing over 11 million roubles by controlling SIM cards linked to soldiers’ bank accounts.
A local official in Belgorod region is also suspected of stealing more than a million roubles by linking recruits’ accounts to his phone number.
Some soldiers have been robbed by their own commanders. One serviceman told ZAMONA that his unit was barred from shops and ordered to hand over their bank cards and PINs to a sergeant major, who then fled with money from about 50 cards, some holding up to 2 million roubles.
Khursa reported the officers who took his money. They were charged with robbery and abuse of power but avoided trial by enlisting to fight in Ukraine under a law allowing suspects to serve instead of facing charges.
Speaking from a hospital near Saint Petersburg, Khursa said, “At first I was angry. Then I thought, if there is a God, maybe this is how it should be.” He never recovered his money and now awaits a military doctor’s decision on whether he must return to the front, as contract soldiers are required to serve until the war ends.
Despite shrapnel near his heart, Khursa sees no civilian future for himself. He and Oksana have separated, with Khursa saying he did not want to hold her back during his military service.
“If I’m not here, I’ll end up on the street. Only the army saves you, puts a roof over your head,” he said.
Many Russian soldiers returning from Ukraine face exploitation and theft, contradicting official promises of respect and financial reward for their service.
This topic was reported by BBC.
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