Russia Punishes 20,000 Soldiers for Refusing to Fight in Ukraine: Gulag 2.0 or War Chaos?
Did you know that Russia has prosecuted over 20,000 of its own soldiers for refusing to fight in Ukraine? Yes, you read that right – twenty thousand! According to the independent Russian portal Mediazona, which tracks military court data, over 20,000 cases of insubordination were recorded by the end of May this year.
Most of the charges relate to unauthorized abandonment of units – a staggering 18,000 cases! Additionally, there are cases of refusal to obey orders and desertion. Out of the total accused, 17,000 soldiers have already been legally convicted.
This brutal system of punishment and abuse of soldiers can be compared to the Soviet Gulags. The goal is clear – to intimidate and punish those who dare to refuse orders or try to flee the battlefield.
While the world pressures Moscow to end the war, Russia shows no signs of stopping. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claims Russia recruits between 40,000 and 45,000 new soldiers monthly, including prisoners recruited in exchange for reduced sentences. Moreover, Russia increasingly relies on contract soldiers, luring them with high one-time cash bonuses often exceeding the average annual salary in poorer regions of the country.
The Kremlin uses this approach to maintain military capacity despite heavy losses and the army’s poor morale. At the end of last year, President Vladimir Putin signed a decree increasing the number of Russian armed forces to about 2.4 million, including 1.5 million active soldiers.
This decision came at a time when the Russian army continues to lose personnel and faces major challenges in maintaining enough troops to continue the war in Ukraine.
Where is the end to this madness?
Clearly, the Kremlin is ready to go all the way – punishing tens of thousands of its soldiers, using them as expendable resources in a war it cannot win. Is this the new Gulag? Or just chaos spreading within the Russian army?
As the world wonders how to stop this bloody conflict, Russian soldiers pay the price for refusing to be cannon fodder. What do you think about this brutal system? Is it a sign the war is nearing its end or just the beginning of even greater chaos? Drop a comment, let’s hear some reason or rage – whatever suits you best!
