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Russia Faces Surge in Crime as Return of Veterans Raises Concerns

Russia Faces Surge in Crime as Return of Veterans Raises Concerns

Crime rates in Russia have surged to their highest point in 12 years, according to reports from the exiled news organization Vyorstka, which cited data from the Prosecutor General’s Office.

The Prosecutor General’s Office indicated that in the first half of 2025, Russia recorded 27,124 crimes—a rise of 3,747 compared to the same timeframe the previous year, marking the most significant figure since 2013.

This marks the first instance since 2014 that the crime count has surpassed 23,377 over a six-month period.

The agency did not specify the categories of crimes involved.

This increase in crime coincides with the return of over 130,000 veterans from the war in Ukraine, which includes a substantial number of former inmates.

Open-source information suggests that these returning soldiers have been responsible for the deaths of at least 378 civilians since the onset of the full-scale conflict and have severely injured another 376.

These incidents, which have occurred across 80 regions in Russia, as well as in annexed Crimea, Sevastopol, and the breakaway region of South Ossetia, are primarily domestic offenses often exacerbated by alcohol-related issues.

The government has been considering how to effectively handle the reintegration of former combatants, especially those who were recruited from prisons.

Last year, Nina Ostanina, who leads the State Duma’s Family Protection Committee, called on officials to implement ongoing monitoring for returning inmates.

However, Andrei Alshevsky, a member of the Duma’s Security Committee, dismissed the proposal, claiming that the “heroes of the [special military operation]” have already “atoned for their guilt with blood” and warrant the state’s support.

Officials are preparing for significant social tensions as hundreds of thousands of additional soldiers are expected to demobilize, many of whom may carry psychological scars.

The Health Ministry has reported that 26% of war veterans who sought mental health support were directed to psychiatrists.

In August 2024, Deputy Defense Minister Anna Tsivilyova stated that one in five returning soldiers was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, necessitating “serious, long-term work” and medical intervention.

President Vladimir Putin noted last year that around 700,000 Russian troops were positioned in Ukraine, with a notable proportion having been either recruited from prisons or facing criminal charges prior to their deployment.

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‘Plush Troops’: The Pro-War Children’s Toys Taking Over Russia’s Online Marketplaces Текст: “In this strategy game, you lead a battalion aiming to liberate Ukraine from Nazi rule,” reads the description of Russia’s first board game about the war in Ukraine. The game,called“Special Operation on the Outskirts,” sells for about 1,600 rubles ($20) on Russian online marketplaces. Inspired by Monopoly and designed for two to six players, the game challenges participants to occupy as many Ukrainian cities as possible. Instead of Monopoly money, players use a fictional currency featuring the faces of President Vladimir Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and former General Sergei Surovikin. In the fourth year of the full-scale invasion, toys and merchandise featuring the pro-war Z symbol have become increasingly common on Russian marketplaces and social media. Listings include everything from car dashboard decorations to toy soldiers for children. “The plot grabs you from the first minutes. It’s great that part of the proceeds go to support participants of the special military operation. The perfect gift for patriots!”writesYekaterina, a recent buyer. Other reviewers share that they gave the game to their sons on Defenders of the Fatherland Day. Another board game, “Couch Expert,” promises to educate players about the invasion. Players have 30 seconds to answer questions about the progress of the “special operation.” Questions range from the late ultranationalist politician Vladimir Zhirinovsky’s position on the war to the roles of figures like Elon Musk and propagandist Olga Skabeyeva in shaping сoverage of the invasion. “I ordered 11 of them for school as gifts for the boys. But I got lucky — the boxes came wrapped in film, so it’s not embarrassing to give them. Thanks,”writesa woman named Natalia in a review. These toys span all price ranges, from an acrylic Z-minionto aroly-polytoy bearing the pro-war slogan “You can’t knock us down.” The latter sells for about 500 rubles ($6). “The idea to create a patriotic roly-poly toy came five years ago, when the Russian team was banned from competing under the national flag at the Olympics in Korea,”saysDmitry Zavidov, director of the Kotovsky Roly-Polies company. On VKontakte, Yulia from Moscowsells“knitted fighters” shaped like a tiger, mouse or dog. Each animal, stitched with a Z or V,costs1,500 rubles ($18). For an extra 250 rubles, Yulia offers to embroider a soldier’s callsign on the toy’s flak vest. “Any other inscription of your choice is also possible (price depends on the size),”readsthe product description. On some marketplaces, similar toys arepricedat around 1,100 rubles ($14). Another item on the market is a stuffedraccoonmarked with the Z symbol, a reference to the raccoon that Russian troops infamously stole from a zoo during their retreat from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson. Sellers alsoofferstuffed bears in military uniforms with Z and V insignia. In some cases, the toys arehandmadeby widows of Russian soldiers. For younger children, “patriotic”coloring bookssell for about 300 rubles ($3.73). “My child is four. He liked it,” says one mother in a review. Some parents post videos of their children coloring tanks and other Russian military equipment. For about the same price, sellers alsooffera set of toy soldiers called the “Special Operation Recon Soldiers Set.” “Toy figures of the Russian Armed Forces will delight children with their quality and design. They’re perfect for role-playing games and help develop creativity and imagination,” the manufacturer claims. War-related games and toys may hold particular appeal for children,explainspsychologist Michael Brandl, a member of the German toy evaluation group Spiel Gut. One reason for their appeal, he says, is that they offer positive reinforcement of the media and propaganda messaging that children encounter daily. “From these sources, children form an image of a person they then try to imitate and act out in roleplay. Weapons and how to use them become part of the child’s perceived reality and a key attribute of the supposed image of the ‘ideal’ man,” Brandlwrote. A child psychologist from Russia, whose name has been withheld for safety reasons, voiced a similar view. “This is a protracted war, so the state and Vladimir Putin need boys, even from kindergarten, to already be preparing for the future battlefield,” the psychologist told The Moscow Times. “First, the state turns poor women into mothers who buy these toy soldiers. Then this Z-patriotism is nurtured with a mother’s milk. They’ll buy it without even noticing the Z, especially if it’s on sale.” Marketplaces also offer stuffed cat car decorations in camouflage colors that cost about 500 rubles ($6.20). In addition to a toy with the Russian tricolor and the letter Z, the manufacturer alsooffersa version bearing the Wagner mercenary group’s skull emblem. “You sent me a female cat, apparently — no male features and no Z. I specifically needed a male cat with a Z on it! I refused the order at pickup,”complainsa buyer named Elena. Other buyers note that the toy’s tail fell off quickly. Even toy robots are marked with the Z symbol. A set of these toys costing 784 rubles ($9.70) includes a robot with a Russian flag and weapons. For an extra 200 rubles, itcomeswith a glow-in-the-dark Z. “Satisfied with the purchase. Russia will win! Russia always wins!”saysMaria, who bought the Z-robot for her son, in her review.

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