War Didn’t End for Them: Crime, Drugs, and Broken Control Systems

In this episode, we look at a growing and dangerous trend inside Russia — crimes committed by military veterans returning from the war. A soldier in Bryansk beats his partner and attacks police with a knife. Another veteran skips deployment and instead builds a drug network with his own relatives. At the same time, the government considers making supervision of ex-convict fighters voluntary — despite warnings from law enforcement. Nearly 500 people have already become victims of crimes committed by military personnel since the start of the war. What happens when those trained for violence come back home without control, support, or accountability?