Russian troops accuse commanders of extortion and looting the dead

Russian soldiers are accusing their own commanders of turning the war into a cash racket — demanding bribes for survival and looting the bodies of fallen comrades. Testimonies from serving troops paint a system where money, not orders, determines who lives and who is sent to die.

Bribes to Avoid the Frontline

Accounts gathered by Meduza describe a shadow economy inside Russian units. Soldiers say large portions of their pay are handed over to commanders to avoid high-risk deployments.

One soldier said the choice was blunt: pay up or be sent forward. What begins as a promised financial incentive quickly becomes a survival tax, draining bonuses meant to offset the dangers of war.

‘Meat Assaults’ Used as Threat

Refusal comes at a cost. Troops describe being threatened with so-called “meat assaults” — high-casualty attacks with little chance of survival — if they fail to comply.

Young recruits appear especially vulnerable. One 20-year-old said he was forced to hand over his signing bonus to avoid being pushed into near-suicidal operations.

War Economy Spirals Out of Control

Beyond bribes, soldiers report constant demands for money to cover basic supplies — fuel, food, even equipment. Payments are frequent, often opaque, and sometimes reach hundreds of thousands of roubles.

“It’s become a business,” one soldier said, suggesting a breakdown of command discipline, where personal gain overrides military cohesion.

Looting the Dead Raises Stakes

The most disturbing claims go further. Soldiers allege commanders strip valuables from fallen troops on the battlefield, taking cash and personal items without hesitation.

“They unzip vests and take what they find,” one account states. The practice, if confirmed, signals a collapse in basic military ethics — and a force under strain from within as much as from the battlefield.

Putin’s soldiers loot dead comrades: "It costs nothing"