Russian soldiers - deceived and robbed after returning from the front in Ukraine

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, solemnly promised a triumphant welcome for soldiers returning from Ukraine, but a documentary investigation reveals large-scale financial fraud against military personnel.

Since the invasion began in February 2022, Putin has tripled the size of the Russian army, relying on extensive financial incentives to attract volunteers. Soldiers can receive up to 5.2 million rubles (47,000 British pounds) in their first year of service, plus an additional 4 million rubles for injuries sustained.

A specific example is 39-year-old Nikita Khursa, who joined the army because of the financial opportunities. As a welder from the Rostov region, he spent only two months on the front line in the summer of 2024 before being injured and sent to recover.

His story reveals a series of abuses. After receiving monetary compensation, Khursa was stopped by road police who robbed him, taking 2.66 million rubles (24,000 British pounds).

The BBC investigation documented numerous similar cases of organized crime against military personnel. In another instance, police officers at a Moscow airport would inform taxi drivers about returning soldiers, who would then force them to pay drastically inflated sums.

Cases of institutional fraud have also been uncovered. In October 2024, three employees of a recruitment center in the Vladimir region were arrested for stealing over 11 million rubles by holding onto recruits' SIM cards and gaining access to their bank accounts.

Sometimes the robbery is carried out directly by military commanders. One soldier recounts how his unit was forced to hand over their bank cards to a senior sergeant who subsequently disposed of 50 salaries, many belonging to soldiers listed as missing.

In Khursa's case, his attempt to seek justice encounters another obstacle. The police officers who robbed him have been charged, but the case does not reach court. They register as volunteers in the army and leave for Ukraine, taking advantage of a new law allowing suspects to avoid criminal prosecution through military service.

Khursa shares his emotional story with BBC - separating from his wife, awaiting a military doctor's decision on whether he will be sent to the front again, and seeing the army as the only possible way to survive.

The investigation highlights a large-scale systemic problem where soldiers risking their lives become victims of corrupt practices at various levels of authority.