Ukraine: The Latest Russian commander: 'only 5% of our soldiers survive assaults' & Putin's army 'rampages' on home soil
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Apr 2, 2026 Oleksiy Sorokin, co-founder and deputy chief editor of the Kyiv Independent, gives insider analysis on Ukrainian politics and shifting power figures. He discusses rising political infighting, prospects for 2026 elections, and which military leaders may move into politics. Other topics include battlefield corruption, emerging drone footage, and surging violent crime tied to returning Russian soldiers.
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Payments Determine Who Lives
- Survival depends on ability to pay officers for rear transfers and protection from violence.
- Examples include payments of 1 million rubles to move back and threats like handcuffing, beating, tying to trees and execution for non-payers.
Returning Soldiers Linked To Spike In Violent Crime
- Russian garrison courts recorded sharp rises in violent crimes by active servicemen since 2022.
- Data show 729 murder cases 2022–2025 versus 67 in prior four years and 549 sexual violence cases, with 312 involving minors.
Impunity At Home Mirrors Occupation Abuses
- Culture of impunity among Russian servicemen extends from home to occupied Ukrainian territories.
- Antonia notes many perpetrators are ex-convicts recruited into the army and victims in occupied areas lack legal recourse.