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Mutiny by Russian soldiers against Putin: army could destabilise Russian society

Duration: 3:35 503 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has alleged that Vladimir Putin is afraid to end the war in Ukraine because he fears for his own life, believing that stopping the conflict now would anger the occupying forces rather than constitute a victory. According to this perspective, the Kremlin dictator worries that if the war ends prematurely, the returning soldiers will return enraged and turn against him, potentially leading to a mutiny or societal destabilization. Both Ukrainian intelligence and sources within Putin's inner circle suggest that there is a genuine fear of a massive revolt involving up to a million Russians who might rise up against the leader upon their return home. The core of this instability stems from the fact that Russia has recruited upwards of 180,000 convicted criminals, including murderers and rapists, to fight in the war on Ukraine. Initially, these prisoners were offered pardons after serving six months on the front line, but by 2023, the Defense Ministry changed the rules to require them to fight until the war concluded unless they were released due to serious injury, conspicuous bravery, or bribery. Now that the conflict is nearing a potential end, Moscow faces the prospect of releasing these hardened individuals back into society all at once, which Kremlin insiders describe as an unpleasant and highly disruptive event that requires careful management to avoid chaos. Security affairs expert Mark Galeotti highlights that the crimes committed by these paroled convict soldiers are already having severe effects within Russia, creating a dangerous environment for civilians. He notes that Moscow's decision to enlist gangsters and serious criminals on such a massive scale ensures that the impact of their return will be unusually disruptive, as many of these individuals are damaged and dangerous people who have not been rehabilitated. The initial recruitment was facilitated through the Wagner mercenary company before shifting directly under the Russian Defense Ministry, but the fundamental issue remains the same: releasing a large cohort of violent offenders simultaneously poses a significant threat to public safety and social order. Ultimately, the situation presents a paradox where the very people recruited to save the regime are now seen as a potential source of its downfall if not managed correctly. While some prisoners have already been released under specific conditions with the threat of returning to prison if they reoffend, the bulk of the convict army remains on the front lines and will return only when the war ends. Putin appears concerned that this sudden influx of criminals could destabilize Russian society further, exacerbating existing problems caused by their crimes at home. Consequently, the leadership is reportedly preparing for this difficult transition, hoping to mitigate the risks associated with reintegrating a population composed largely of violent offenders who have been away from society for years.

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Kremlin dictator and war criminal Vladimir Putin is afraid to stop the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this in an interview with CBC News. According to him, Putin fears for his life. The dictator fears that the war in Ukraine has not yielded the desired results for Russia, so ending it now could anger the occupiers. They genuinely believe that stopping right now won't be a victory. It will be quite the opposite. Therefore, if he remains in this position, he's afraid the soldiers will return, be enraged, and turn against him, Zelensky noted. Both Ukrainian intelligence and Putin's inner circle believe a million Russians might revolt against the Kremlin leader. Therefore, the dictator is afraid to stop at this stage of the standoff. So, Vladimir Putin is concerned for the [music] unpleasant return to society of Russia's convict army, according to three anonymous sources within the Kremlin. The Russian president views the prospect of an army returning all at once as a potential risk he wants carefully managed to avoid destabilizing society. Russia is already experiencing severe effects at home due to crimes committed by paroled convict soldiers, >> [music] >> court documents show. Vladimir Putin recruited upwards of 180,000 criminals to fight his war on Ukraine. Now, they're coming home. Multiple anonymous sources inside the Kremlin have revealed the Russian leader is preparing for the unpleasant return of his convict army, according to Reuters. Murderers, rapists, and other hardened criminals were initially offered a pardon after 6 months of service on the front line. Recruitment began in mid-2022. By 2023, the Defense Ministry had [music] changed the rules to make prisoners keep fighting until the war was over. Now, sources tell Reuters Mr. Putin believes the army's return all at once brings with it the risk of destabilizing Russian society. It's something he wants carefully managed, the same Kremlin insiders say. The crimes committed by paroled convict soldiers are already [music] having severe effects at home, according to Russian security affairs expert Mark Galeotti. In a report on Moscow's demobilization woes, Galeotti says Russia must prepare for the release back into society of often very damaged and dangerous individuals. Indeed, Moscow's decision to enlist convicted gangsters, murderers, rapists, [music] and similar serious criminals on a mass scale will ensure that the impact at home will be unusually disruptive, he says. Moscow first recruited prisoners under the auspices of the Wagner mercenary company and then directly under the Russian Defense Ministry. The initial deal proposed was simple, survive 6 months fighting on the front line and [music] receive a pardon. After a change of mind, Russia made the rule that convicts can be released with conditional parole, meaning if they reoffend, they would then have to complete their previous sentence. Generally, the prisoner soldiers are released from combat because of serious injury, conspicuous bravery, or on occasion, bribery, Mr. Galeotti said. Other convicts who are still fighting on the front line will return to society if and when the war ends.