Russia is facing an unprecedented surge in violent crime, and many of the most horrific cases involve veterans of the Special Military Operation (SVO) — former prisoners who were pardoned in exchange for military service. In this episode, we investigate the country’s most shocking crimes: from the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl to the bludgeoning of an elderly woman, and a triple homicide committed by a Wagner mercenary. Experts, criminologists, and lawyers explain how combat trauma, a broken justice system, and government policies are allowing repeat offenders to kill again — often just weeks after returning from the front. This is not just a series of isolated incidents. It’s a growing crisis.
Russia is facing an unprecedented surge in violent crime, and many of the most horrific cases involve veterans of the Special Military Operation (SVO) — former prisoners who were pardoned in exchange for military service. In this episode, we investigate the country’s most shocking crimes: from the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl to the bludgeoning of an elderly woman, and a triple homicide committed by a Wagner mercenary. Experts, criminologists, and lawyers explain how combat trauma, a broken justice system, and government policies are allowing repeat offenders to kill again — often just weeks after returning from the front. This is not just a series of isolated incidents. It’s a growing crisis.