⚠️ The Kremlin fears a crime wave after the return of soldiers from the war against Ukraine, – Reuters

The Kremlin fears destabilization after the return of hundreds of thousands of soldiers, including pardoned prisoners who fought against Ukraine. A significant portion of Russian fighters are former convicts sentenced for serious crimes such as murder, robbery, rape, and pedophilia, Reuters reports.

Source: Censor.NET

In Moscow, there are concerns about a repeat of the 1990s scenario, when veterans of the Afghan war triggered a surge in crime. According to Russian media, just last year so-called “veterans” of the war in Ukraine killed at least 242 people and seriously injured another 227.

To keep the situation under control, the Kremlin is trying to quickly employ former soldiers: giving them positions in parliament and regional administrations, and assigning them to lead youth movements.

🇷🇺 Putin has no chance of ending the so-called “special military operation” on his own terms — expert

April 17, 2026

🪖 Ukraine is actively developing recruitment into the Defense Forces as an alternative to mobilization

April 17, 2026

However, analysts warn that the scale of the current war and the number of its participants far exceed those of the Afghan era, so the consequences could prove to be much more serious.