Murder rate among Russian soldiers returning from Ukraine surges
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The number of Russian soldiers committing murder after returning home from the frontline has soared over the past two years amid “chronic mental health” issues linked to serving on the battlefield. Follow live updates here The MoD said: “The high numbers of homicides by serving and veteran Russian soldiers are likely in part due to enduring war-related chronic poor mental health issues. “Compounding this is the return into the general population of ex-convicts with a pre-existing propensity for criminality and extreme violence.” It comes as NGO Russia Behind Bars said 15,000 prisoners pardoned for their participation in the war against Ukraine had returned home from the frontline.