Russia's Punishment Battalions: Echoes of Stalin's Brutality
Russia has deployed penal units known as "Storm-Z" squads, consisting of military and civilian offenders, to the frontlines in Ukraine. These squads, embedded within regular army units, are often sent to the most exposed parts of the front and sustain heavy losses. The fighters in these squads are considered expendable infantry and are typically convicts who volunteer to fight in exchange for a pardon or regular soldiers being punished for disciplinary breaches. The deployment of these squads marks a departure for Russia in Ukraine, as they come under the direct command of the defense ministry. The formation and losses of these squads have not been officially disclosed by the Russian government.