A member of the Russian militarys Storm-Z penal unit has alleged widespread corruption among commanders in the Ukraine war, the independent news outlet Novaya Gazeta Europereported Wednesday.Officers regularly extort up to 20,000 rubles ($220) in exchange for releasing troops from so-called punishment pits in the ground where they are placed for various infractions, the unidentified soldier said.Commanders also extort 20,000 rubles per month from soldiers by threatening to confiscate vehicles they purchase for personal use, he added.The publication did not disclose the soldiers identity and rank for security reasons, but said he has been stationed in eastern Ukraines Donetsk region since October.The Storm-Z soldier said he was driven to desertion when his commander ordered his deployment to the battlefield when he had doctors orders to avoid physical activity afterundergoing medical treatment.Reutersreported in October that Storm-Z fighters have typically been sent to the most exposed parts of the front line and are prone to heavy losses.At least three other unidentified Storm-Z fighters cited by Novaya Gazeta Europe denied encountering extortion from commanders.Ive never even heard of such a thing, one of them was quoted as saying.Novaya Gazeta Europe said its interview subject was recruited into Storm-Z from a prison colony in Far East Russias Primorsky region.
It did not disclose which crime the soldier had been convicted of.Novaya Gazeta Europe previously reported, citing an unidentified Russian motorized rifle unit officer, that soldiers could pay bribes to secure transfers to a different unit, vacations and hospitalizations for up to $50,000.