Corruption surges in Russian army as soldiers pay bribes to escape service — HUR
Corruption in the Russian army has tripled as the soldiers pay bribes to leave the service, the Ukrainian Military Intelligence (HUR) reported on August 1.
The number of registered criminal proceedings for bribery among military units officers testifies to the increase in the number of those who want to escape from the army.
The number of cases for illegal dismissal from service and granting illegal vacations tripled in five months of 2024 in the Russian Armed Forces southern military district.
Almost half is comprised by the Russian 8th Combined Arms Army. Another 36% goes to the 58th Combined Arms Army, whose commander was previously arrested on suspicion of corruption.
More than a hundred proceedings relate to bribery for the granting of leave from the combat zone.
"Relevant episodes being fixed as criminal cases may indicate a growing level of demoralization among soldiers, and a threatening trend for Moscow to escape from the Russian army by any means," the HUR said.
The level of corruption in the Russian army has always been high, but "similar cases of bribery went unnoticed earlier," Ukrainian Intelligence said
The Russian army is having difficulties recruiting new contract soldiers amid heavy losses in Ukraine, the HUR said on July 26.
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