#Military

#War

In 2025, the number of military personnel convicted of murder doubled, with sentences issued to 116 service members in the first six months

2025.10.20

In the first half of the pre-war year 2021, ten military personnel were convicted of murder

In the first half of 2025, Russian courts sentenced 116 military personnel for murder, according to court data analyzed by «Important Stories»*. This is twice as many as in the same period of 2024, when 54 military personnel were convicted. In the first half of the pre-war year 2021, ten military personnel received murder sentences.

The number of military personnel convicted under the first part of the article (murder of one person) reached 68 people. 48 were convicted under the second part of the article — for the murder of two or more persons, minors, or pregnant women.

The number of military personnel sentenced for causing grievous bodily harm also increased, with 92 military personnel sentenced in the first half of 2025. In 2024, 80 people were convicted on these charges.

Additionally, as noted by «Important Stories», the judicial department of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation published data for the first time on how many people managed to avoid punishment due to participation in the war in Ukraine.

In the first six months of 2025, 350 people took advantage of this right. 41 of them committed crimes against life and health — this includes murder, assault, or causing grievous bodily harm.

Two people who avoided punishment due to participation in the war in Ukraine were tried under the murder article. 118 people were tried for theft, fraud, robbery, or armed robbery.

Another 57 defendants in criminal cases who went to war in Ukraine were tried for traffic violations, 32 for illegal actions with narcotic or psychotropic substances, and 25 for military crimes.

* Recognized in Russia as a «foreign agent» and «undesirable» organization.

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