Russian Elite Military Forces: Alleged Self-Injury as Survival Strategy?
The Russian military is under scrutiny following allegations of a fraudulent scheme involving the 83 Air Assault Brigade. The brigade, which is not officially recognised, has been active in Ukraine, specifically in Chasiv Yar and the Kharkiv region.
According to reports, senior commanders in the brigade, including Guard Colonel Artem Gorodilov and Lieutenant Colonel Konstantin Frolov, have been charged with fraud. Both have admitted to their part in the scheme, which allegedly involved soldiers shooting themselves or each other to fraudulently collect over 200 million rubles ($2.4m) in state payments.
The story of the 83 Air Assault Brigade suggests a combination of corruption and desperation among soldiers facing danger, deprivation, mutilation, and death. It's important to note that Russia's official military justice system rarely publicises corruption cases or disciplinary offences in detail.
The alleged scam involves 35 high-ranking and decorated officers, as well as private soldiers. However, specific details, such as the names of the individuals involved, concrete units like the 83 Air Assault Brigade, and the exact number of 35 people, are not verified and do not appear in verifiable public Russian or international sources.
Investigative Russian opposition outlets Meduza and Mediazona have indicated that Russian casualties hit record highs in 2024, with the deaths of 93,000 men across the year. These findings were corroborated by Ukraine's HUR intelligence service.
Russian soldier Oleg Vesnin, from the unit, released a video stating he had been without food and water for three days and couldn't take it anymore. This video, along with other reports, raises concerns about the conditions faced by soldiers in the Russian military.
The regime may have motives other than exposing fraud in publicising the story of the 83 Air Assault. Minimising public knowledge of casualties in Ukraine could be one such motive. Europe's Edge, CEPA's online journal covering critical topics on the foreign policy docket across Europe and North America, has reported on this issue.
Aliide Naylor, the author of 'The Shadow in the East' and a reporter from the Baltic states and Ukraine, has been following this story closely. Her work provides valuable insights into the complexities of the situation in Ukraine and the challenges faced by the military personnel involved.
As the situation continues to unfold, it's crucial to maintain a factual and unbiased approach to reporting on this matter. The alleged scam, if proven, would be a significant blow to the Russian military's integrity and would further highlight the human cost of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
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