Russia’s Criminals Go to War Instead of Prison | Guf Escapes Punishment & Serial Killer Dies at Front

In this episode of From Russia with Fear, we examine three shocking stories that reveal how violence, celebrity privilege, and war are reshaping Russia’s justice system. Russian rapper Guf avoids punishment after a violent fight with a National Guard officer inside a Moscow-area bathhouse. The victim accepted compensation and the criminal case was closed — reportedly because the rapper needed to continue touring. Meanwhile, one of Russia’s notorious serial killers, known as the “Astrakhan Strangler,” dies on the battlefield after signing a military contract to escape prison. And in Yekaterinburg, a man accused of carrying out a brutal acid attack on a mother of four leaves pre-trial detention to join the war instead of facing court. These stories expose a disturbing pattern in modern Russia: violent offenders, repeat criminals, and even murderers are increasingly using military service as a path out of prison.