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Russia Places Over 1,300 War Participants in Ukraine into Government Roles
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At least 1,305 individuals who took part in Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine have since been appointed to positions within the country’s governing system, according to an investigation by Meduza on June 29.
The analysis refers to individuals who either won local or regional elections or were appointed to government bodies and publicly funded organisations with significant state involvement. In total, the outlet identified them holding 1,311 official posts.
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Journalists compiled the database using open sources, including reports from federal and regional media outlets, as well as information published by government institutions and electoral commissions. The outlet stressed that this represents a minimum estimate, noting that the actual number of war participants who have entered state structures is likely higher.
The data indicates a steady annual increase in such appointments. In 2023, there were 45 cases recorded, followed by at least 201 in 2024, no fewer than 754 in 2025, and at least 311 between January and May 2026.
Nearly half of the appointments were made at the municipal level (656), while 570 were at regional level and 85 at federal level. A further 20 appointments were recorded within educational institutions.
According to two senior regional officials cited by Meduza, former servicemen are typically assigned to positions that are not linked to “significant budget flows or serious administrative work.” One of them added that these roles are usually related to “youth policy, patriotic education, or interaction with other veterans.”
In a separate development, Russia’s military courts recorded a sharp rise in cases involving sexual violence and murder, according to a report by the Russian outlet Vot Tak, which analysed judicial statistics from 2018 to 2025.
The number of rape cases handled by military courts increased to 116 in 2025, nearly nine times higher than in 2021, when 13 cases were registered.
A similar trend was observed in broader sexual violence cases, which rose more than fivefold to 132 in 2025 compared to 24 in 2021.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, military courts have processed a total of 549 such cases. At least 312 involved crimes against minors, including 249 victims under the age of 14.
At the same time, cases of murder and severe bodily harm also rose significantly. Military courts registered 352 murder cases in 2025—nearly 17 times more than the 21 cases recorded in 2021. Cases of serious bodily injury resulting in death increased ninefold over the same period, rising from 15 in 2021 to 135 in 2025.
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Analysts also caution that a substantial number of returning combatants, particularly those with prior criminal records, may present serious public safety risks.
A key concern relates to recruits drawn from Russia’s prison system under so-called “special military contracts.” Since 2022, tens of thousands of inmates have been recruited, with authorities offering pardons and financial compensation in exchange for service on the front line.
Many of these individuals were previously convicted of violent offences, including murder and armed robbery. Their early release and exposure to combat are now seen as factors that could contribute to a potential rise in organised crime and domestic violence upon their return to civilian life.
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