‘Pay or die’: Russian soldiers expose bribery system on Ukraine front

Russian troops fighting in Ukraine say survival on the battlefield increasingly depends on bribing their own commanders, according to a new investigation into corruption inside Russia’s frontline units.

The joint probe by Die Welt and independent outlet Verstka found widespread allegations that officers demand money from soldiers seeking safer assignments or relief from high-risk assaults.

More than 20 soldiers and relatives were interviewed, with reporters examining bank receipts, documents and message logs that appear to show payments flowing up the chain of command.

“They decide who lives and who dies,” said Russian soldier Maksim Ivanov, describing how access to safer duties could hinge on cash transfers to superiors.

A battlefield economy

Ivanov said he was asked to pay one million roubles — about $11,000 — shortly after arriving at the front to avoid being sent on a near-certain suicide mission.

Others described an ongoing payment system rather than a one-off bribe.

“It’s like a subscription,” Ivanov said. “You pay every month so they don’t send you to slaughter.” Some soldiers reportedly transferred around 100,000 roubles monthly to remain in rear positions or avoid returning to combat after injury.

Former contract soldier Alexei Andreev said troops were also routinely pressured to contribute funds for equipment purchases, including radios and drones.

In some units, commanders allegedly confiscated soldiers’ bank cards and PIN numbers, giving officers direct access to their pay.

Violence, threats and deadly consequences

Those who refused to pay risked punishment — or worse.

Former fighter Maksim Sokolan said commanders used intimidation and violence to enforce compliance, while ex-soldier Igor Vakhterov claimed he was beaten after rejecting demands to hand over half his bonus.

Witnesses described a practice known among troops as “zeroing”, where defiant soldiers are allegedly sent into extremely dangerous missions or eliminated under suspicious circumstances.

Even medical evacuation for wounded soldiers reportedly carried a price tag of up to 100,000 roubles.

Complaints have been filed with Russian military prosecutors, but many families say they have received no response. The Russian Ministry of Defence has not commented on the allegations.

You pay and you might stay alive: Russian soldiers expose frontline bribery system