Reuters news agency published an investigation for those fighting in Ukraine in Storm–Z units, which are deployed on the front line. As stated in the investigation, the recruitment of criminals in these units constitutes a method of punishment reminiscent of Stalin’s practices.

Reuters cited 13 people familiar with the situation in these units, as well as five fighters and their family members. All of them wished to remain anonymous.

“Storm-Z fighters are simply expendable,” a Russian military official told Reuters. It claims that in the fighting raging near the city of Bahamut, commanders ordered soldiers not to provide medical aid to Storm-Z unit fighters, who they viewed as expendable. He declares that he violated the order and helped the injured.

Russian military and Kremlin-affiliated media officially acknowledge the existence of the Storm-Z units. However, Reuters claims that it was the first to gather evidence of the recruitment of convicts and the formation of special units deployed on the battlefields of Ukraine.

In addition to prisoners recruited to fight in Ukraine, Storm-Z units were assigned soldiers who refused to obey orders from superiors or used drugs.

Each unit consists of 100-150 fighters who are deployed on the front line and usually suffer the heaviest casualties. A member of Storm-Z, who was recruited while serving a prison sentence for theft, told Reuters that only 15 survived from his unit of 120 fighters.

Reuters points out that unlike the Wagner mercenary organization, which also recruited prisoners, the Storm-Z units report directly to the Ministry of Defense.

The Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.